Pregnancy is a joyous time for families across Oregon. The excitement and anticipation of meeting your child can be rivaled by few other events in life. The celebration can abruptly be cut short, however, when a mother experiences a pregnancy-related injury during the birth process. Injuries to the mother during this critical time period can be serious and fatal.
One mother who experienced serious birth injuries has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit. The suit claims her doctors were negligent in treating her during the birth of her son by caesarean section. Complications including heavy bleeding followed, and she was flown to a different hospital and was required to undergo a hysterectomy. Because of the hysterectomy, she is no longer able to have more children.
During the trial, her husband testified that he was scared she would die after giving birth. She had to stay in the hospital seven days, and was not able to see her newborn until she was at home. The lawsuit is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.
While the outcome of the lawsuit has yet to be seen, this woman���s case shows the serious consequences of mistakes during the birth process. The smallest mistake on behalf of medical staff can have life-long consequences for both the mother and her child. A medical malpractice claim is a way to hold negligent doctors, nurses and other medical team members accountable for their mistakes. A malpractice claim can also provide compensation for victims. Damages for things such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income and loss of consortium are awarded in many cases.
Source: Republican Herald, ���Malpractice trial starts in county court,��� Peter E. Bortner, May 14, 2013