It’s becoming increasingly popular for expecting mothers to choose alternatives to standard hospital room delivery for their children. North Carolina parents are opting for in-home births or births conducted by a midwife for a variety of reasons.
Unfortunately, one woman’s experience with a midwife didn’t go as she had expected, even though the birth of her child was also supervised by an obstetrician. Both medical professionals ignored signals that the unborn child was in distress as the woman was going into labor in September 2012. Failing to take note of these signs and deliver the baby quickly caused the child to sustain brain and birth injuries that will affect her development.
Already, the mother knows her daughter’s life was complicated by the medical error. As a result, she filed a medical malpractice suit for birth injuries on her daughter’s behalf. The legal claim indicates that the daughter’s motor and mental abilities have been hindered.
The suit seeks compensation to help take care of the past, present and future medical costs stemming from the incident. In addition to the midwife and the doctor, the medical facility where the birth took place was also named in the suit. A successful claim will not reverse the effects of the errors, but it will help the mother and daughter gain access to the resources they need.
When dealing with an instance of medical malpractice, it may be challenging to determine the full extent of the damages without proper guidance. Consulting with an attorney, however, can provide individuals with the knowledge to work through the legal process and pursue a thoughtful course of action.
Source: The Madison-St. Clair Record, “Obstetrician and midwife accused of failing to timely deliver infant,” Kelly Holleran, May 2, 2013