Oregon Medical Malpractice and Auto Accident Law blog

Advances made in medicine in recent years have caused childbirth to be viewed as a fairly routine procedure. While expectant mothers in Oregon certainly should not fear that they will be harmed while giving birth to their babies, delivery is still a traumatic process that certainly does take its toll on a woman. Part of that toll may indeed be an injury, yet the hope is that any damage that is done during delivery will be quickly identified and dealt with. If it is not, it can linger within a woman and even progress to the point of causing serious health complications. 

Often the effects of such an injury are manifested over time. Yet women should be able to count on the skills of their doctors to recognize problems from diagnostic testing or a description of their symptoms. It was a failure to meet such a standard that prompted a woman to sue a physician's group in Kansas for medical malpractice. She claims that providers belonging to the group should have been able to identify the signs of a tear she sustained during childbirth that was causing her bowel issues. The problem ultimately went unidentified for over a year. 

When physicians are not careful, their actions can have drastic and lasting effects. That is why they are held to a high standard.

So, what can you do if your physician failed to uphold the proper standard? A medical malpractice claim may be beneficial. Before filing, there are a few key aspects to understand regarding claims in Oregon.

Malpractice cases stem from a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most common malpractice case is a failure to diagnose a condition in a timely way. In some instances, patients may suffer significant physical and financial hardship due to a doctor's misdiagnosis.

If you or someone you know has had to come to terms with crushing medical news, you understand the devastation. What may worsen the blow is finding that the doctor missed vital clues that may have led to an earlier discovery and effective treatment. 

An expectant mother does all she can to take care of herself in anticipation of her baby's birth. The physician and staff take over during delivery, doing all they can to keep the baby safe. Still, injuries do happen, and one of the most common is an infant brain injury due to lack of oxygen.

There are four common reasons for oxygen deprivation to occur:

• Birth canal issue: During a difficult labor, the baby may get stuck in the birth canal. Medical staff must intervene quickly to resolve the matter. Not only is oxygen deprivation a problem, but an infant that becomes lodged in the birth canal is also subject to other injuries.
• Umbilical cord problems: An umbilical cord that becomes twisted, knotted or prolapsed can cut off the infant's oxygen. If the cord gets wrapped around the neck, time is of the essence in ensuring that the problem is solved, and the baby can breathe properly. Another crisis occurs if the doctor cuts the cord too quickly, which can cut off the supply of oxygen before the infant is able to breathe on his own.
• Blocked airway: Blocked airways can occur if mucous lodges in the baby's lungs. Again, medical staff must act quickly to clear constricted airways and prevent possible long-term medical issues.
• Placental abruption: A placental abruption refers to a situation where the uterus and placenta separate too quickly; as a result, the newborn may not get a sufficient amount of oxygen.