When Pennsylvanians seek medical treatment or care, there is always a chance that a medical mistake will happen. This can cause severe injuries and fatalities. Although these incidents happen with complicated maladies, diseases, conditions or injuries, they also occur during common procedures. Medical professionals can make an error in performing surgery, diagnosing a complaint, treating an issue, or dispensing medication. One everyday procedure that has surprising risks is when a mother is giving birth. Often, this is considered in the context of a birth injury, but the mother is also at risk. Those who have been harmed or lost a loved one due to a perceived medical error should know their rights to be compensated.
Possible legal claim stems from mother’s brain injury
A woman who went to a hospital in New Jersey to give birth suffered a brain injury and her family blames the hospital. Last July, the woman, 28, was having her first child. During an emergency Cesarean section, she had cardiac arrest and was not breathing for nine minutes. Her family says the doctors did not react appropriately when she was in distress. Her brain did not get sufficient oxygen and she suffered hypoxia. It is unclear what happened and the hospital is accused of stonewalling as the family tries to determine how the issues came about.
Doctors had encouraged the parents to approve the C-section due to risk to the newborn. The woman had been in a coma, but is now minimally conscious. She was sent to a rehabilitation center and is said to be slowly improving with increased arm movement and is trying to speak. The hospital is accused of refusing to provide medical records, but some information from staff has been gathered by the father and his legal representation. The father of the baby girl is pursuing the potential claim.
Seeking compensation after a medical error may require legal representation
It is unfortunate that hospitals and medical professionals are frequently uncooperative when family members seek answers as to how an error or series of errors came about. However, it is unsurprising. Because medical malpractice claims can have wide-ranging ramifications for doctors and hospitals, it is imperative for those who believe they have been victimized by medical errors to have legal advice. This is true for anyone who was hurt or lost a loved one. Since there are so many ways in which medical malpractice can happen, it is wise to consult with a firm experienced in these claims to take the necessary steps to gather evidence and move forward with a legal filing.