Expecting mothers and fathers are often excited to bring a new child into their family. However, the birth process is not easy. A lot of planning and healthcare is involved, and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of many individuals to ensure everything goes smoothly. The center piece of this complex period is an expecting mother’s doctor. He or she is crucial to ensuring prenatal care is sufficient and that the birthing process itself is done safely.
Every year, though, many mothers find themselves or their child unnecessarily harmed by a doctor’s error. One mother who has filed a lawsuit against her doctor allegedly lost her son due to a medical mistake. In 2012, the woman had her child prematurely. The child was subsequently given a blood transfusion that contained Cytomegalovirus, a common and usually harmless virus that has the potential for causing complications. However, in this case, the child had a bad reaction and his medical condition worsened until he passed away. The child’s parents have since filed a lawsuit, claiming steps should have been taken to properly screen and treat the transfusion blood to ensure it was safe for their premature baby.
Though this may seem like an extreme example, many children suffer a serious birth injury. Those who live through the ordeal often require long-term care and may suffer a permanent disability. Living life under these circumstances can be heartbreaking for both the child and his or her parents. It can also be very expensive, as medical expenses and quickly rack up.
The best way to escape this undeserved debt and to give an injured child the life he or she deserves is to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor and hospital that caused the birth injury. An experienced Oregon attorney can help a family learn of its legal options and how best to proceed. With the information provided by an attorney, a family can make fully informed decisions in its best interests which, hopefully, lead to the recovery of compensation.
Source: Trib Total Media, “Fayette parents sue hospital, blood bank, doctor over infant son’s death,” Bob Stiles, July 12, 2014