Each year, hundreds of patients in the United States experience serious and life-threatening complications during pregnancy. Many injuries related to pregnancy complications are avoidable and occur because a doctor fails to recognize signs of a problem or to provide appropriate treatment. In those cases, a mother and/or a newborn may suffer long-term harm, or even death.
If you experienced complications during pregnancy that affected the health and safety of you and/or your baby, a Los Angeles pediatric pregnancy malpractice lawyer may be able to help you seek financial compensation. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has represented thousands of clients across the United States who suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Our firm has helped victims of medical malpractice, including patients who were injured during pregnancy, obtain financial compensation.
We can seek a financial award for expenses you have already incurred and costs that you may have to bear in the future. Our firm may pursue compensation for past and future hospital bills, supportive or rehabilitative care, equipment, and home modifications that may be necessary for you or your child, as well as pain and suffering. Call our office at (800) 970-4884 to discuss your legal options with a member of our staff.
How Pregnancy Malpractice Occurs
Doctors must meet a standard of care and provide a level of care that another physician with similar training and experience would provide in similar circumstances. A doctor who fails to meet the standard of care may be committing medical malpractice.
Obstetricians have a responsibility to take action to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications that could affect the health and safety of a mother and child. A doctor may commit medical malpractice if he or she fails to diagnose a problem, diagnoses it after it has progressed and is difficult to treat, or diagnoses a condition that a patient does not actually have.
Sometimes complications are unforeseen and unavoidable, but may occur as a result of medical malpractice. According to the Office on Women’s Health, common pregnancy complications include preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, hypertension, anemia, placental abruption, abnormal fetal growth and development, and hyperemesis gravidarum, or persistent nausea and vomiting. A pregnant patient may also experience bleeding, an infection due to birthing complications or a C-section, blood clots, or other problems.
Pregnancy complications sometimes have symptoms that are similar to symptoms that patients typically experience during a normal pregnancy. That can allow some serious complications to be missed.
Sometimes pregnancy complications occur because of medication errors. A doctor or nurse may prescribe or administer the wrong medication or the wrong dosage because of misdiagnosis, inadequate training, miscommunication, or human error.
How Healthcare Providers Can Prevent Pregnancy Complications
An obstetrician should discuss a patient’s medical history; perform regular physical examinations; discuss lifestyle factors, such as nutrition, exercise, and smoking; and take steps to prevent complications or to identify and treat them if they arise. A doctor should describe possible pregnancy complications and signs to look out for and explain what to do if they should occur. If a patient has a chronic condition that existed prior to pregnancy, the physician should explain how to manage it while pregnant and monitor the patient’s condition.
Doctors and hospitals should take steps to ensure that all pregnant patients receive an appropriate level of care. A hospital should have standard procedures in place to deal with complications. Healthcare providers should clearly communicate with each other so that everyone on the team is aware of any medical problems, complications, or risk factors that may influence care decisions.
For a free legal consultation with a Pediatric Pregnancy Malpractice Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 970-4884
How a Los Angeles Pediatric Pregnancy Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You Seek Justice
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can speak with you and anyone who accompanied you to medical appointments or who was present with you in the hospital when you gave birth. We can review your medical records to find out what types of tests and examinations were performed during your pregnancy, whether risk factors were identified, whether a condition was properly diagnosed, and whether you received appropriate treatment when it was needed.
We work with litigation trial attorneys all over the United States. A member of our team can travel to meet with you in person to discuss the injuries you or your baby suffered, the care you received or failed to receive during your pregnancy, and who was responsible for your injuries. If we find evidence that a doctor, nurse, or hospital committed medical malpractice, we may file a personal injury lawsuit to seek financial compensation for your medical expenses, costs for further care you or your child may need, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call our office to learn more about how we may be able to help your family seek justice.
Los Angeles Pediatric Pregnancy Malpractice Lawyer Near Me (800) 970-4884
Hold Those Responsible for Medical Malpractice Accountable
Patients who have suffered injuries related to pregnancy are often concerned about the cost of hiring an attorney and the amount of time it might take to reach a settlement. You do not need to worry about the cost of a Los Angeles pediatric pregnancy malpractice lawyer since Pintas & Mullins Law Firm works on contingency. Our firm pays for expenses related to litigation and only receives payment if we obtain a financial award for a client.
Cases involving pregnancy-related complications tend to be complex because numerous people and facilities may have provided care to a patient at some point during pregnancy. That can make it difficult to figure out who was responsible for injuries.
Patients also have a limited window of opportunity to pursue legal action. According to the California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.4 and §340.5, the statute of limitations to file a claim for medical malpractice is three years from the date of injury or one year from the date when the plaintiff discovered, or should have discovered, the injury, whichever comes first. A legal action for injuries to a child before or in the course of birth must be filed within six years.
The sooner you contact us, the sooner our team will be able to get to work gathering evidence, figuring out who was liable for your injuries, and creating a plan to seek justice on your behalf. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 970-4884 to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
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