Birth injuries: Family awarded $4 million after mother’s death

The occurrence of childbirth by cesarean sections is on the rise in Delaware and across the United States. Although, they are often necessary for the health of the mother or child, there are potential risks to both. Birth injuries most often impact the child, but at times the process can be very dangerous and harmful to the mother. A jury in another state just awarded a family $4 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit for the loss of their mother after she delivered her fourth child.

The mother suffered anemia, a low blood count, throughout the duration of her forth pregnancy. Anemia increased the mother’s risks during her C-section due to the loss of blood that was expected to occur, as it does with any surgery. Her surgeon accidentally cut her intestine during the surgery, requiring a specialist to intervene and repair the bowel. Due to the extended surgery, the mother lost more blood than anticipated. Blood products were ordered to be ready, but were not given to the woman. 

Not long after her surgery, the woman began to hemorrhage. She lost more blood, requiring the ordered blood products to be transfused. She suffered a cardiac arrest despite the transfusions, and it is believed that she was not given the blood products that would have best benefited her during the crisis. She was rushed to surgery in attempt to stop the bleeding, but she did not survive.

Reportedly, the mother spent only minutes with her new baby and left behind three other surviving children. Although the defendants argued that medical staff offered the mother every possible chance for recovery, the jury did not agree. Families in Delaware that have suffered similar fatal or traumatic birth injuries could benefit from a case review by a personal injury attorney experienced in handling medical malpractice claims. Some families may have potential legal options in civil court like the family in this article.

Source: brockton.wickedlocal.com, “Brockton, Stoughton family awarded $4 million in malpractice suit“, Tom Relihan, Oct 16, 2017