Labor and Delivery Injury

When doctors and hospitals fail to exercise a reasonable standard of care for one of the most important events in the life of a family, they should be held accountable for their actions. If you, or your spouse, has been the victim of any type of injury while giving birth please contact our Delaware birth injury lawyers right away.

Helping Mothers Injured During Childbirth

A lack of oxygen to the brain is usually the root of injuries sustained during childbirth. A fetus suffering from intrauterine asphyxia will almost always show signs of distress. In addition to oxygen depravation childbirth injury can also be due to the mothers OB-GYN failing to diagnose chorioamnionitis, also referred to as intra-amniotic infections or IAI for short. Doctors, nurses, midwives and other labor and delivery professionals are trained to recognize symptoms of fetal distress and react accordingly.

• If a healthcare provider’s care falls below accepted standards in recognizing the signs of fetal distress, irreversible injury can result.
• Technology, including an internal fetal heart rate monitor is a common tool in avoiding permanent injury as a result of difficult or complicated labor.
• Our birth injury trial and settlement attorneys have handled hundreds of cases that involve an allegation of birth trauma secondary to negligent monitoring.

Handling Cases Involving Labor And Delivery Negligence

When birth trauma is preventable the attorneys at Shelsby & Leoni are prepared to investigate the case with the help of medical experts who specialize in birth injury cases.

• Did failure to monitor contribute to the birth trauma? Fetal monitoring can offer forewarning of fetal distress. If the medical staff is not watching the monitor, important signs can be missed — and the baby and mother can suffer life-changing injuries.
• Was there a failure to do a C-section when it was clearly indicated? A cesarean section can relieve the baby of stress that could otherwise cause brain damage or brachial plexus injury.
• Was the baby injured by forceps? Did a lack of oxygen cause cerebral palsy? Our medical experts can examine the delivery room records to determine what steps were taken to prevent injury.
• Was Rh incompatibility anticipated and treated during the pregnancy?

Consult With Our Delaware Birth Trauma Lawyers

When a birth injury occurs, the details are found in the data.

Our legal team meticulously investigates every minute of your care to uncover where the system failed. We focus on four critical areas:

• Did staff correctly interpret fetal heart rate monitors and maintain precise medical records?

• Were changes in the mother’s or baby’s condition reported to the physician immediately?

• Did the managing OB-GYN or midwife actually read the charts and recognize signs of fetal distress?

• If a doctor failed to act, did the nursing staff follow protocol to advocate for the patient and seek emergency intervention?

If medical negligence or medical malpractice was involved, we want to help. Please contact the Delaware delivery room injury attorneys at our firm for a free consultation. Call now to schedule your appointment.