Fetal distress is a term that indicates that an unborn baby is in experiencing problems in the womb. A frequent kind of fetal distress happens when the amount of oxygen that is reaching the baby is reduced to levels that endanger the baby. This is referred to as hypoxia, a condition that can bring about brain damage and possibly death if the situation is not identified right away and either corrected or the baby is delivered (in most cases via an emergency C-section). One possible sign of fetal distress is the existence of meconium (dark green fecal matter that normally does not appear before the baby is delivered) in the amniotic fluid. Another possible indicator is a considerable drop in the fetal heart rate (to beneath healthy levels). A fetal heart rate monitor can be used to track the baby's heart rate. Below we review a published instance in which this occurred Have a look at a noted situation in which a pregnant woman checked in at the hospital to give birth to her baby. Her physician, however, was not present yet. A nurse therefore examined the woman. In her chart, the nurse described that the amniotic fluid contained meconium and that the fetal heart rate monitor showed abnormal readings. The readings were suspect for fetal distress. The nurse notified the physician by phone but did nothing else. The physician, instead of heading to the hospital without delay, chose to wait and instructed the nurse to continue to monitor the expectant mother. The nurse disconnected the fetal heart rate monitor thereby discontinuing any further warnings of a problem. In all, the physician did not make it to the hospital for almost 7 hours. When the physician examined the woman the doctor simply turned her care over to another physician to cover. Upon learning of the nurse's findings that physician performed an emergency C-section. The damage had already taken place. The newborn now had brain damage. Unfortunately, the baby had gone through a lack of oxygen for too long and had suffered brain damage by the time the covering physician performed the C-section. The baby was left with permanent impairment including the retardation of mental and physical abilities, the need for a feeding tube, and a seizure disorder. The law firm that handled this case published that they took the case to trial and attained a $7.2 Million verdict, interest included. As this case demonstrates there are times when physicians and nurses do not act with the urgency appropriate for the risk that particular labor complications present. What took place in the situation discussed above is beyond comprehension. First, even though the physician was advised about a number of abnormal signs by the nurse the doctor did not just choose to wait before going to the hospital but actually directed the nurse to remove the monitor - the one source of critical information about the health of the unborn baby. It is almost as if the physician did not want to be told of further indications of complications. The nurse might have informed another doctor of the situation. Instead, the nurse deferred to the physician's rank and authority. After finally showing up at the hospital and seeing the woman the doctor passed her care to another physician. Unfortunately, regardless that by all evidence the other physician acted properly, it was too late to avoid irreversible injury to the infant. An unborn child is at risk of significant and irreversible injuries when physicians and nurses fail to take immediate action when confronted with indications of fetal distress. The claim additionally demonstrates that when this occurs these doctors and nurses may be held accountable for not taking proper actions and therefore not meeting the applicable standard of care. This is the level of professional responsibility to which we hold physicians and nurses. As soon as they fall short and their actions or lack of actions result in an injury to an infant they may be subject to a medical malpractice claim. Because of the seriousness of the harm to the baby the recovery from such cases can be considerable.
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Physicians and nurses are expected to have the knowledge training and experience necessary to recognize and react to fetal distress. They are also supposed to devote suitable attention to monitoring their patient for the duration of labor and delivery. In the event they fail to do so their actions may lead to severe injury to the unborn child. In such situations they might be liable for medical malpractice.
Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney accepting fetal distress cases. You can learn more about fetal distress and other birth injury matters including group b strep and erbs palsy visit the websites
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