When you are pregnant or giving birth, you probably do not expect to suffer an injury or complications. Most parents worry more about the health of their babies. Injuries do occur in newborns, but they can happen in new mothers, too.
Unfortunately, maternal birth injuries impact many West Palm Beach families. If you suffered harm while having your baby, you might have sufficient grounds to file a Florida medical malpractice claim.
Injuries and death during and after giving birth
Many things can go wrong while pregnant and during labor and delivery. However, medical professionals should know how to address signs of danger. When they provide substandard care or fail to act in the face of danger, mothers may end up with long-term injuries.
Women can also die without adequate medical care during pregnancy and childbirth. NPR reports that the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of all industrialized nations. Many of those that survive delivery suffer atrocious complications like organ failure, infection and hemorrhaging.
NPR also says that “nearly fatal” pregnancy and childbirth complications doubled from 1993 to 2014. Further, more women require emergency hysterectomies to stem uncontrollable bleeding after childbirth. Others must have a feeding tube installed, and still others develop sepsis after giving birth.
Maternal fatalities and injuries need more scrutiny
Another disturbing fact revealed in the NPR report involves a significant lack of investigation into maternal injuries and deaths. Perhaps if more families know they have the right to uncover what went wrong, these statistics may begin to fall, with more women surviving and thriving post-childbirth.
The main takeaway is not to automatically accept a physician or hospital’s account of what went wrong. Launch an investigation independent of any initiated by your medical providers. Learning more about medical malpractice can help you find the truth and a satisfactory legal solution.