Failure to Perform a Timely C-Section

In cases where a fetus is distressed or in danger, doctors may deliver a baby through a C-section in order to prevent birth injury. A C-section allows doctors to remove an infant and provide immediate and potentially life-saving treatment to the child so that it has a greater chance of survival.

Unfortunately, in some cases there is a delay in getting a C-section. Even in high-risk pregnancies or in cases of prolonged labor, medical staff may not monitor mother and child correctly or may not respond appropriately to signs of distress. In some cases, specialists take some time to arrive and may not order a cesarean section in time to prevent birth injury. If your child has been injured, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney in Miami or your community to determine whether medical negligence was at fault. If you have questions, you can always contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation to get answers.

There are many instances where a C-section may be needed:

• The baby is too large for a mother’s birth canal, increasing the risk of birth injury
• The baby is suffering fetal distress and is not getting enough oxygen
• The mother is in distress and the baby needs to be delivered so that the mother can be treated
• The labor is so prolonged that it is causing a danger to the child and mother
• The child is in a riskier positioning for labor and delivery

There are many reasons why a C-section is not performed in time:

• Incorrect monitoring of the fetus during pregnancy, so that doctors do not notice issues with size or other risk factors
• Lack of fetal heart monitoring (FHM) during labor or staff’s inability to read FHM strips correctly
• Doctors or professionals are not present or are not told of a problem in time
• Incorrect monitoring of the mother and infant during labor and delivery, so distress is not noticed in time
• Lack of correct response when distress to the mother or child occurs
• Delays in securing a second opinion or an obstetrician in order to get the approval for a cesarean section
• Hospital policies delay the decision making for an emergency C-section

In some cases, minutes are essential and even a short delay in a medically necessary C-section can increase the odds of complications or serious birth injury. Any signs of distress of the fetus - - including a decrease in movement of the fetus, changes in the fetal heart rate, or a presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid – should be promptly addressed. If necessary, a C-section should be performed in a timely manner to deliver the baby and administer life-saving treatment if needed.

Working with a network of medical experts, the Flaxman Law Group investigates and reviews each birth injury case carefully. The legal team advocates aggressively on behalf of victims in order to secure the fairest compensation possible. To date, the legal team at this full-service law firm has recovered more than $25 million on behalf of personal injury victims and birth injury victims in Miami and across South Florida. If you have questions or believe you may have a case, contact the Flaxman Law Group to schedule a confidential and free accident consultation to discuss your situation.