Baltimore Childbirth Complications Attorney
If you believe that you or your child have sustained devastating injuries as a result of a physician who induced labor improperly, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. This is most commonly referred to situations where labor was induced using the drugs Cytotec or Pitocin.
Medical specialists may resort to using these common obstetric drugs in order to change or induce the labor process. Doctors currently rely on these medications to move the labor and delivery process along.
Although the majority of times when these medications are used they are successful in facilitating the safe and healthy delivery of a child, complication can and do occur. For example, several different life threatening birth injuries can happen if Cytotec or Pitocin is improperly administered to a pregnant woman.
Complications Associated with Pitocin Induced Labor or Cytotec Induced Labor
The most common complications associated with using Cytotec or Pitocin improperly for inducing delivery include:
- Amniotic fluid embolism, which is a rare condition where debris and amniotic fluid enter the mother’s blood stream.
- Postpartum hemorrhage caused by over stimulating the uterus and having the birth progress too quickly.
- Uterine rupture due to stress placed on the uterine with overly intense contractions.
- Hyperstimulation, which happens after an excessive amount of very strong contractions happening at intervals of 2 minutes or less from one another.
- Seizure disorders
- Developmental delay
- Cephalic Hematoma
- Paralysis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
- Fetal distress
- Mental retardation
- Intracranial hemorrhage
When Do These Labor-Inducing Drugs Lead to Medical Malpractice?
There are many complications associated with a delayed delivery. Some of the most common causes of medical malpractice in this situation are:
- Delaying the decision to use a C-section.
- Failing to move forward with a vaginal delivery.
- Improperly trained staff and doctors.
- Not enough staff or physicians to help a woman in labor.
- Failing to bring in obstetric specialists during high risk pregnancies.
- Failing to diagnose and treat complications associated with delayed delivery.
- Improper use of a vacuum extractor.
- Improper use of forceps.
- Failing to detect fetal conditions that could contribute to delayed delivery.
- Failing to recognize when the child is in the breech position.
- Failing to administer oxygen to a newborn in fetal distress.
Baltimore Childbirth Complications Attorney Can Help You
If you or your child have been injured due to the improper use of labor inducing drugs like Pitocin and Cytotec, you need to consult with an experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to reach out to a lawyer immediately as this could be critical to protecting your child’s future. Improper induction of labor can lead to many different medical complications.