Preparing to give birth is an exciting time for mothers and families in Massachusetts and elsewhere. While parents spend months prepping their lives for their first or next child, the unexpected can occur. Although birth plans lay out the wishes of the mother, these plans still need to be flexible for complications or even medical emergencies occurring during labor and delivery. While a vaginal birth might be the initial plan of a mother, she might require a C-section if something goes wrong. Although this is a surgery routinely conducted by Ob-gyns, this does not mean risks are not involved. Even more so, if the procedure is not properly conducted, this could result in serious birth injuries.
How often are C-sections performed? According to current data, a C-section is the most common surgery performed in the U.S. This means that more women receive C-sections than patients have an appendix removed or their knee replaced. Approximately one out of every three babies born, or 1.3 million babies, are delivered via C-section versus vaginally.
While some mothers-to-be require this procedure to deliver their baby because of their weight, having diabetes or being older, researchers found that the biggest risk factor involved with having a C-section is how busy the hospital is when the mother walks in to deliver her baby. Investigators found that the rates of C-sections for low-risk deliveries vary from hospital to hospital across the nation. If a hospital is busy and does not have the ability to manage multiple lengthy deliveries, they may attempt to persuade a mother to have a C-Section.
Recent data suggests that almost half of all the C-sections performed in the U.S. are not considered necessary or required. Performing a surgical birth poses added risks to the mother and child. Thus, if a mother has gone through a C-section, necessary or unnecessary, it is important to understand what rights she has if any injuries to her or her baby occur during the surgery. Just like any surgery, medical professionals are required to take specific steps. This reduces the harms, injuries and infections to the patients. If a medical professional fails to uphold this duty, this could result in serious harm or even birth injuries to the newborn.
A medical malpractice claim could help a patient hold a negligent medical professional liable for their wrongdoings. This legal action could also help with the recovery of compensation. This monetary award could help cover medical bills, rehabilitation, future medical treatment, lost wages and other losses and damages suffered.
Source: Winknews.com, “Your biggest C-section risk may be your hospital,” Lindsay Sablan, May 16, 2017
