When you think of medical malpractice, you might not think of negligence relating to pregnancy. Unfortunately, medical malpractice cases involving pregnancy-related issues are more common than you might think. Medical malpractice related to pregnancy can lead to birth injuries, as well as issues relating to wrongful birth and wrongful pregnancy. Here's some information that will help you understand how pregnancy-related medical malpractice may relate to you.
Negligence Resulting in Injuries to Mother or Baby
When it comes to pregnancy-related medical malpractice, many people think of injuries involving the baby. However, birth injuries can also affect the mother, while others involve both the mother and the baby. Some types of injuries relating to the mother will include maternal infections resulting from unsanitary conditions during delivery or postpartum care. Injuries to the mother can also involve excessive bleeding that's not controlled quickly enough. Injuries relating to the baby can occur when a doctor negligently delivers a baby before term, resulting in life-long disabilities for the child. If you believe that you or your baby have suffered injuries due to negligence on the part of your doctor, you need to consult a medical malpractice attorney such as Lee Eadon Isgett Popwell & Owens as soon as possible.
Negligence Resulting in Wrongful Birth
Wrongful birth is another form of negligence-related medical malpractice. Wrongful birth occurs when doctors fail to provide proper testing during pregnancy, resulting in parents being unaware of potential medical problems with the fetus. This failure to provide proper genetic testing can result in a pregnancy that would have been terminated prior to live birth. Another form of wrongful birth occurs when someone attempts pregnancy based on faulty genetic testing. Wrongful birth can also occur when a planned abortion is performed incorrectly, resulting in a live birth. If you feel that you have been the victim of a wrongful birth, you should talk to a medical malpractice attorney.
Negligence Resulting in Wrongful Pregnancy
If you had a medical procedure performed to prevent pregnancy, but negligence on the part of the doctor resulted in an unwanted pregnancy, you may be the victim of medical malpractice. Surgical interventions such as tubal ligation and vasectomies aren't 100% fool-proof, and can result in an unexpected pregnancy. However, if negligence caused your surgical intervention to fail, you need to talk to an attorney as soon as you can. Wrongful pregnancy is a form of medical malpractice, especially if it was caused by negligence.
If you believe that you've been the victim of medical malpractice related to a pregnancy, it's time to sit down with a medical malpractice attorney. They can answer any questions you may have regarding the issues you're facing.
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