We trust doctors and other medical professionals to know what they’re doing when they’re delivering a baby. That’s why serious birth injuries due to mistakes made while inducing labor can be so frustrating.
Instead of helping you or a family member have an easier time during the delivery process, errors made by them end up causing more harm. In certain, extreme circumstances, the mother or newborn baby can die as a result of errors in inducing labor, resulting in a possible wrongful death claim.
Knowing what to do in such a situation can be confusing. Fortunately, you’re not alone. Our experienced birth injury attorneys at Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices, PC can help you every step of the way. We understand how the legal system works. We know what evidence to look for. And we have the case results to prove it.
Many injuries related to errors caused by medical professionals while inducing labor involve the pharmaceutical drug Pitocin. This medication is a synthetic imitation of the natural hormone oxytocin. Physicians often use Pitocin to start labor or to induce or accelerate contractions during the birthing process. The primary benefits of Pitocin are:
Our law firm represents people in Illinois, Wisconsin, and throughout the United States who have been harmed because of Pitocin errors. Our firm has a registered nurse on staff, a complete medical library, and experienced lawyers fully committed to understanding the medicine behind these cases. That way, we can present the strongest case possible and challenge any medical experts who may testify against you.
When administered correctly and monitored carefully, the drug works and all is well. However, when too much Pitocin is used, or when it is used for too long, the corresponding decrease in uterine blood flow may reduce the baby’s oxygen to the point where permanent birth-related injuries such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and cerebral palsy occur.
When Pitocin is used, electronic fetal monitoring becomes absolutely necessary for both mother and child. Pitocin’s primary risk to unborn babies comes from the decreases in blood supply and oxygen levels often associated with its use. When not monitored carefully, this can lead to various types of hypoxic or anoxic birth injuries, including cerebral palsy.
Some of the mother-specific risks involved with the use of Pitocin include more painful contractions (something that often means taking pain medications during labor as well), uterine rupture, and water intoxication. Pitocin can also cause premature laceration of the cervix or post-birth hemorrhaging.
Don’t wait to take legal action if you or a loved one sustained serious injuries due to mistakes made by medical professionals while inducing labor. Under Illinois, Wisconsin and other States’ laws, there are deadlines (known as the statute of limitations) for filing a lawsuit against health care providers or they become forever time-barred.
We know the deadlines and understand how the legal system works. That’s because our experienced birth injury attorneys have been helping families get the money they need and deserve for more than 45 years.
If Pitocin was used during the delivery of your child and an unexpected negative medical outcome occurred, talk to us. We offer free consultations and can provide you with a detailed, honest assessment of your potential claims. To start the process, call 312-236-4146 or contact us online.