The fetal heart rate monitor provides doctors and nurses with important information regarding the wellbeing of the unborn baby as the mother is in labor. The information from the monitor is used to check on whether the baby is doing well or is in a compromised situation. Should such warning signs appear measures should be taken without delay to counteract the situation or to deliver the infant. Waiting can result in serious and permanent injury to the child. By not acting right away doctors and nurses may be acting in a manner that does not satisfy the standard of care. In the event this does end in injury to the baby, these doctors and nurses may be liable for medical malpractice.
Look at a published claim concerning what had been an uneventful pregnancy, the expectant mother was thirteen days past her due date. She went to the hospital for a scheduled delivery. Following her admission to the hospital, one of the doctors ruptured her membranes in an effort to enhance her labor. The woman's records indicate that there was "scant to no amniotic fluid" noted. While she was being followed the fetal heart rate monitor started to exhibit non-reassuring tracings. Yet, 6 hours later medication was administered so as to promote her contractions. Despite the fact that this medication has a possible side effect producing hyperstimulation, progressively higher dosages of the medication were administered throughout the following few hours.
During this period, the unborn child's heart rate showed noticeable late decelerations, an increasing baseline, as well as intervals of decreasing variability the drug did nothing to further her labor. On more than one occasion, two nurses tried to counteract the decelerations but neither nurse made any effort to stop or even decrease the drug being given. Roughly 7 hours subsequent to the first time the medication was used, the fetal heart rate began progressively increasing, a sign that the unborn child was trying to compensate for the lack of oxygen.
Nearly four hours after the signs of fetal distress appeared this physician decided to try a vacuum extraction. The obstetrician made 9 tries at vacuum extraction. As this doctor attempted the vacuum extraction, the fetal heart rate readings worsened to a level suggesting terminal bradycardia. Here this doctor finally decided to perform an emergency C-section. This doctor delivered the infant a little more than 1 hour after beginning the use of vacuum extraction.
The woman's records noted the presence of thick meconium. The child was not breathing, had no muscle tone, no reflexes, and no heart rate. Resuscitation efforts succeeded in reviving the child. The newborn was taken to NICU unitThere, the baby began experiencing seizures. The infant was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy caused by extented oxygen deprivation. The law firm that handled the resulting claim documented that a $4,000,000 settlement was reached in the case
Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney accepting medical malpractice cases. You can learn more about fetal distress and other other birth injury matters including group b streptococcus matters visit the website
