Despite all of our access to modern-day medical technology, the United States still has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world – and maternal deaths are on the rise. Shockingly, a full 60% of maternal deaths that occur are actually preventable. Texas has an especially high rate of maternal mortality. In 2012 alone, there were 56 maternal deaths. Making matters worse, for every mother who dies in childbirth in Texas, experts estimate that another 50 to 100 women experience severe and life-threatening complications. Here at Carabin Shaw, our personal injury attorneys serving Brownsville have compiled some of the most serious yet common birth complications and birth injuries in Brownsville, Texas so you can be informed about this pressing issue.
Common Birth ComplicationsInfections: There are several ways that infection can occur as a result of childbirth. If doctors don’t notice the telltale signs of infection, this may be a form of medical malpractice.
Hemorrhage: Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) or excessive bleeding after childbirth is the leading direct cause of maternal deaths, and is yet highly preventable. One of the reasons that women continue to die from PPH in the United States is that it is still very common for doctors and nurses to “eyeball” the amount of blood a patient is losing, causing them to underestimate the extent of the blood loss and delay treatment.
Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a type of high blood pressure that occurs in mothers either during pregnancy or during the postpartum period that can lead to seizures or strokes, which can be fatal. Despite being easily treatable, preeclampsia must be caught early – or it can become deadly. According to a 2017 investigation conducted by ProPublica and NPR, despite preeclampsia’s easily-identifiable symptoms, this condition is responsible for about 8% of maternal deaths in America because hospital workers don’t recognize it quickly enough.
Common Birth InjuriesFacial paralysis: If an infant’s face has too much pressure applied to it during the delivery, the result can be facial paralysis caused by damaged nerves. This injury often occurs when physicians use forceps to pull the baby out. In less-severe cases, the paralysis can disappear in the course of a few weeks, but serious cases can lead to total paralysis.
Fractures: Fractures can occur if the physician delivering the infant pulls too forcefully while the infant is in breech position. Fractures most often occur in the infant’s clavicle.
Cephalohematoma: This is an injury characterized by bleeding beneath the cranium, usually appearing several hours after birth. Birth-assisting tools can cause cephalohematoma, a condition which clears up within months but can lead to other illnesses in the infant (such as anemia, hypotension, or even meningitis).
Have You or Your Child Suffered? You May Need a LawyerIf you or a loved one have experienced Brownsville medical malpractice that resulted in birth complications or birth injuries, you need to consult a birth injury attorney in Texas. A lawsuit may be the best course of action, and will provide you means of receiving financial compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Here at Carabin Shaw, we hire only the best Brownsville medical malpractice lawyers, and our hospital negligence lawyers in Texas have 200 years of combined legal experience. Brownsville doctor negligence is a serious problem, and our team wants to fight for you so that negligent medical professionals can be held accountable for failing to fulfill their duty of care.
If you’re ready to consult a medical malpractice attorney in Brownsville, our lawyers are available to take your call 24/7. Call our Brownsville office today at 800-862-1260 for your free consultation with one of our experienced Brownsville hospital negligence attorneys and find out what our attorneys can do for you.