Doctors administer too large a dose of drug to induce labor and fail to react to resulting fetal distress
July 4th, 2009
In this case example involving a baby suffering from severe brain damage the law firm that handled the case reported that they were able to achieve a confidential settlement. After admission to the hospital for labor and delivery the mother’s doctors administered a drug to induce labor by artificially strengthening her contractions and making them more forceful. Because this can cause fetal distress it is critical to closely monitor the baby’s progress. When the fetal heart rate monitor indicated signs that the baby was in Fetal Distress the doctors keep administering the drug. This resulted in the baby’s oxygen supply being cut off causing brain damage to the baby. The error was compounded when the doctors failed to respond to the signs of fetal distress by not performing an emergency C-section.
Entry Filed under: Health