A healthy labor and delivery largely depends on the health and well-being of the mother. It is the role of the treating physician to provide the mother with treatment that meets an expected standard of care. Failure to meet this duty can have a deadly result. If the actions of a physician resulted in the death of your family member, consult the attorneys of Schochor, Frederico and Staton, P.A. for trustworthy advice. We understand the pain you are going through and are ready to help.
Common causes of maternal mortality
There are numerous potential causes for maternal mortality, including:
- Uterine rupture during labor can cause massive internal bleeding. Postpartum hemorrhaging can also occur when a woman experiences extremely heavy bleeding after giving birth. According to the March of Dimes, it occurs in one to five percent of all births. Excessive bleeding causes an extreme drop in blood pressure, which can place the body in shock and cardiopulmonary arrest without immediate treatment.
- Untreated preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition which causes high blood pressure, edema (swelling), hyperreflexia and protein in the urine. Diagnosis usually comes from regularly physician check-ups in the third trimester of pregnancy. Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to seizures, stroke, liver damage and maternal death.
- HELLP syndrome. This variation of preeclampsia occurs in the later stages of untreated preeclampsia where the mother develops a coagulopathy (bleeding disorder) and loses her ability to clot, thus experiencing massive bleeding. According to preeclampsia.org, the mortality rate of the condition is 25%, so early diagnosis and treatments are vital.
- C-Section errors. C-sections are often necessary to protect the life of the fetus, as well as the mother. When a physician unreasonably delays the decision to perform a C-section, or makes a procedural error, the results can prove fatal.
- Cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest occurs when the mother’ heart stops beating during labor and/or delivery. This can occur for a number of reasons, including infection, amniotic fluid in the bloodstream, or an undiagnosed underlying or related condition.
Experienced maternal mortality attorneys fight for the compensation your family deserves
The best prevention for these maternal complications is adequate care and treatment. Regular checkups should occur throughout the pregnancy, with the following routine procedures:
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Urine monitoring
- Blood sugar tests
- Fetal heart monitoring, when necessary
- Manual examination of fetus size and placement
Knowledgeable attorneys in Washington D.C. and Baltimore seek compensation for medical malpractice
If the mother of your child lost her life during labor and/or delivery, contact a law firm with 30 years of personal injury experience to discuss the merits of your case. With offices in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, the medical malpractice attorneys of Schochor, Frederico and Staton, P.A. have received numerous awards for their service to the residents of Washington D.C. and Maryland. Schedule your confidential consultation today by contacting the office at 410-234-1000.