What are the Health Risks of a Delayed C-Section?
February 3, 2020
The number of babies that have been delivered via Cesarean section (C-section) in the United States has been growing steadily for the past few decades. In fact, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there was a 60 percent increase in C-sections from 1996 to 2011. Whether a C-section is planned early in the pregnancy or is ordered in response to complications during labor, the procedure is often the safest options for both mother and baby.
However, if a doctor fails to perform a C-section in a timely fashion, it can cause serious health complications for the mother and the baby. In extreme cases, the baby may be born with severe impairments requiring life-long care. If your doctor delayed a C-section, which caused you or your baby to suffer serious health complications, contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
Sometimes, complications arise during labor that a doctor cannot anticipate, including labor that does not progress as it should, or if the baby’s head is in a bad position. When this happens, the physician will immediately book an operating room and perform an emergency C-section to ensure that the baby is delivered as quickly and safely as possible. If the mother or the baby are in distress because the physician failed to closely monitor them, the doctor will likely perform a C-section, but it would be considered a delayed C-section. When a fetus is in distress, a delay in treatment can cause serious complications.
Health Complications from Delayed C-Sections
A delay in treatment can seriously compromise the health of the mother and the baby. The following are examples of common health risks associated with a delayed C-section:
- Brain Injuries: If a doctor fails to notice that a fetus is in distress due to a lack of oxygen, and there is a delay in treatment, the baby can suffer a permanent brain injury.
- Other disabilities: A delayed C-section can cause a difficult delivery. This can cause the baby to suffer a range of serious, permanent disabilities.
- Death: In extreme cases, the delay in treatment can endanger the lives of the mother and the child.
C-sections are major surgical procedures, so even planned C-sections have certain risks associated with them, including the following:
- Blood clots
- Hemorrhaging
- Reaction to anesthesia
- Infection
- Amniotic fluid embolism
- Bleeding
- Risk to future pregnancies
- Breathing issues in newborns born before 39 weeks
- Accidental cuts or scrapes to the baby
Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Compensation for Victims of Delayed C-Sections
If your physician failed to perform a C-section in a timely manner after you or your baby showed signs of distress, you are urged to contact the Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We understand how devastating this can be, particularly if there are health complications that will require long-term care. Our dedicated and compassionate team will work tirelessly to protect your rights and secure the maximum financial compensation you deserve. We will not stop fighting for you until justice has been served. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Prince George’s County, allowing us to represent medical malpractice victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
