Being pregnant should be an exciting and joyful time for new parents as they plan for the arrival of a new family member. Yet, pregnancy and labor complications can quickly derail the celebration. Sometimes natural causes lead to fetal distress; other times doctors or other medical professionals make errors that cause fetal distress, or they fail to take the right measures to prevent the consequences of fetal distress. This negligence can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth injuries, as well as putting the mother’s life in danger.
If you, or your wife, partner, or child, have suffered injury or died because of the negligence of a doctor, other medical professional, or hospital, Michigan law entitles you to sue for damages in civil court. Our Michigan fetal distress injury lawyers understand this is a difficult time for you and your family, and we are here to help. Contact the compassionate birth injury attorneys at Thurswell Law to learn about how we can help you deal with the aftermath of fetal distress ignored or caused by medical professionals.
What Is Fetal Distress?
Fetal distress is an umbrella term referring to a variety of issues which might occur during labor or the third trimester of pregnancy. The term’s ambiguity has led the Committee on Obstetric Practice of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to prefer using the term non-reassuring fetal status. Regardless of which terminology is used, fetal distress has often been associated with the loss of oxygen to the fetus. Signs of fetal distress include:
- Less movement in utero
- Meconium (stool from the fetus) in the amniotic fluid
- Increased or decreased heart rate, especially in the time before and after a contraction
- Late decelerations, which are decreases in the fetal heart rate below the baseline
- Increased acidity in the blood of the fetus
- High levels of pH in the blood of a fetus creating a buildup of lactate
If you suspect medical malpractice played a role in your fetal distress injury, do not hesitate to speak with a Michigan lawyer.
What Causes Fetal Distress?
Fetal distress might be a result of the following:
- Placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus prior to delivery
- Maternal disease or illness
- Umbilical cord compression or prolapse
- Fetal infection
- Rupture of the uterus
Risk Factors for Fetal Distress
Several underlying conditions or characteristics, some of which are evident during pregnancy, are more likely to lead to fetal distress:
- Carrying multiple fetuses
- Heavy drug and alcohol use
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia and other blood pressure related conditions
Holding a Doctor Liable for Fetal Distress
In some cases a doctor might cause fetal distress through the misuse of birthing tools like vacuums and forceps, or by cutting the umbilical cord too soon; however, most negligence associated with fetal distress stems from the failure to act. Some examples of medical malpractice leading to injury from fetal distress include:
- Failure to diagnose the mother with dangerous conditions like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
- Misdiagnosis of dangerous pregnancy complications
- Failure to perform a cesarean section when needed
- Failure to adequately monitor the fetus during labor and delivery
- Failure to recognize symptoms of fetal distress
- Failure to order tests to determine maternal or fetal issues
Call a Michigan fetal distress injury attorney to determine if you have a claim.
Statute of Limitations in Medical Malpractice Cases
If your baby suffered a birth injury because of improperly treated fetal distress, or you suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth, you have a limited window in which to file a medical malpractice suit against your doctor or any other liable medical professional or facility. Your lawyer will advise you on the statute of limitations that applies to your case.
Recovering Damages for Medical Malpractice
Under Michigan law, you might recover the following damages in a medical malpractice claim, if the court rules in your favor:
- Medical expenses including extended hospitalization for the mother and the baby, diagnostic scans and tests, and surgery
- Future medical treatment when untreated fetal distress results in permanent injury to the fetus
- Lost earning capacity if a birth injury prohibits a baby from gainful employment in adulthood
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
- Loss of society and companionship
Reach Out to a Michigan Fetal Distress Injury Attorney Today
Facing struggles because of a birth injury or coping with a miscarriage or a stillborn baby remains one of the worst events a person can experience during their lifetime. We are empathetic to the difficult time you and your family are going through. Those who are responsible for your pain and suffering deserve to be held accountable for their actions. Focus on dealing with your pain and/or grief and let a Michigan fetal distress injury lawyer navigate the complexities of a medical malpractice claim.
Contact the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Thurswell Law for a free consultation to determine the next steps for you and your family.
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