One of the major reasons women deliver their babies in hospital settings is to have access to emergency care and medical professionals should something go wrong. When a doctor or other
healthcare professional fails to notice fetal distress, they have placed the infant at risk for serious, and often permanent physical disabilities, or even death.
Fetal distress is an indication that the infant’s life is in imminent danger. It is indicated by either a very fast or very slow heart rate. Heart rate can increase in response to a lack of oxygen, or not recover its normal rate at the end of a contraction.
Fetal distress can be caused by breach presentation, multiple births (twins, triplets,) shoulder dystocia during which the infant’s shoulder is unable to pass through the birth canal, prolapsed umbilical cord (presenting before the baby’s head,) nuchal cord (wrapped around the baby’s neck,) abrupted placenta, or premature closure of the baby’s ductus arteriosus (part of the infant’s aorta structure.)
Emergency delivery can be induced or a caesarian section can be done to deliver the infant quickly, where he can be treated and relieved of the distress.
Failure to respond appropriately can result in injuries and disability such as cerebral palsy from lack of oxygen to the brain, Erb’s palsy or Bell’s palsy from shoulder distocia, among others.
If you or your infant experienced difficulties during delivery and your infant has suffered any injuries,
contact the Findlay Law Offices in Hamilton, Ontario for a free consultation. If your physician failed to notice and properly treat fetal distress, our experienced lawyers can help you recover costs you have and will incur in caring for your child’s medical and rehabilitative needs.
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