Medication errors during labor are far too common. From anesthetics and pain medications to drugs like Pitocin used to induce labor and strengthen contractions, OB-GYNs commonly prescribe a variety of medications during labor and delivery. While these medications are generally safe when prescribed and administered appropriately, they can present serious risks in some cases.
This includes risks for both the mother and the baby. Tragically, medication errors during labor can cause serious birth injuries that could—and should—have been prevented. If your newborn has been diagnosed with a birth injury that you believe may be the result of a medication error, you may have grounds to seek financial compensation for your family’s medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Several types of medication errors during labor can cause serious—and, in some cases, life-threatening—birth injuries. These include common medication errors such as:
As always, doctors must only prescribe medications during labor if it is safe to do so. Among other things, this means that doctors must consider a patient’s allergies, their current medications, and any other potential contraindications. Improperly prescribing medications during labor can lead to complications that present serious risks for both the mother and the baby.
Improperly administering medications during labor can present serious risks for both the mother and the baby as well. This includes administering medications too soon or too late, as well as administering epidurals and other injections in the wrong location.
Along with improperly prescribing or administering medications, failing to prescribe or administer a needed medication during labor can also lead to birth trauma or other issues that could—and should—have been prevented. While many doctors err on the side of over-prescribing, failure to medicate is a common issue during labor as well.
Fetal distress, prolonged labor, tachysystole, and uterine hyperstimulation are all potential signs of drug-related complications that doctors generally can—and should—diagnose promptly. There are several other diagnosable signs of drug-related complications as well. After administering medications during labor, doctors and other healthcare providers have a duty to monitor for warning signs and intervene if necessary.
Administering too much of a drug, administering too little of a drug, and administering the wrong drug during labor can all have serious consequences. Whether due to administrative errors, inadequate communication, or other issues, these mistakes can also provide new parents with grounds to seek just compensation for birth injury diagnoses.
If you have reason to suspect that any of these errors—or any other medication error—is to blame for your newborn’s diagnosis, you should consult with a birth injury lawyer promptly. If you have concerns about a possible medication-related birth injury and have not yet sought a diagnosis for your newborn, you should do so as soon as possible.
The medication errors during labor listed above—among others—can lead to a wide range of birth injuries. If your newborn has been diagnosed with a birth injury, it will be important to determine if the diagnosis is drug-related. If it is, your family may be entitled to compensation not only for the costs of your newborn’s treatment, but for your family’s other financial and non-financial losses as well.
Some examples of birth injuries that may be caused by medication errors during labor include:
Complications resulting from medication errors during labor can cause developmental delays and conditions such as cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy as well. Ultimately, if you have concerns about a medication error during labor for any reason, you should not ignore them. The financial and non-financial costs of these and other conditions can be substantial; and, if your family has a birth injury claim, it will be important to ensure that you seek the full compensation your family deserves.
We provide experienced legal representation for new parents who are facing the consequences of life-altering and life-threatening birth injuries caused by all forms of medical negligence in Illinois. If you have concerns about a medication error during labor, we strongly encourage you to get in touch.
The Chicago birth injury lawyers at Coplan + Crane know how devastating a preventable birth injury can be. You don’t have to face the hardships alone. Our experienced legal team has the knowledge, skill, and resources these difficult cases demand. We aren’t intimidated by big insurance companies, and we don’t back down from a fight.
To speak with an experienced Chicago birth injury lawyer about your family’s legal rights in confidence, please call (312) 982-0588 or request a free consultation online today.
