When a mother goes into labor in Atlanta, it is the duty of her doctors and hospital staff to ensure that her health and the health of her unborn baby are properly monitored. Because numerous problems can arise during the labor process, careful monitoring can catch any problems before they become emergencies and steps can be taken to correct them.
Failure to properly monitor a 30-year-old woman’s labor is being blamed for the death of her baby. The woman was admitted to the hospital early in the morning on November 15, 2011. The woman’s labor was induced with Pitocin/Oxycotin, and although there were multiple indications that the baby was in distress during the course of the day, no interventions were done.
The baby was delivered at 6:34 p.m., but was not breathing and did not have a heartbeat. She was pronounced dead at 7:29 p.m. An autopsy revealed the baby died from asphyxia.
The woman has retained a lawyer and filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital, a woman’s healthcare center, a certified nurse midwife and two doctors. She is suing for over $10,000 in compensatory damages. Her lawyer feels that if the medical professionals would have adequately monitored the health of the baby during labor, they would have noticed she was in distress. He said that if they would have performed a C-section earlier, the baby would have lived.
This mother has gone through something no parent should have to. Hopefully her lawsuit will enable her to receive the compensation to which she is entitled.
Source: The Dispatch, “Mother files medical malpractice suit against LMC in death of baby,” Darrick Ignasiak, Nov. 18, 2013
