Louisville Failure to Perform a C-Section Attorney

Approximately one-third of all infants in the United States are delivered via Cesarean section (C-section), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A C-section may be recommended or necessary in certain high-risk deliveries or when complications arise, and it is the responsibility of the attending doctor to identify when a C-section is needed and to perform it as quickly as possible.

Medical guidelines dictate that an emergency C-section should be performed within 30 minutes. Delays can lead to brain damage caused by birth asphyxia or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Delayed C-sections or failures to recommend a planned Cesarean can cause serious, preventable birth injuries and lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy.

If your C-section was delayed for any reason, or your doctor failed to recommend a Cesarean delivery, and you or your child suffered harm as a result, Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC can help. Our Louisville C-section error attorneys know how to identify and expose obstetric malpractice in order to help injured children and their families seek justice.

Contact our firm today at (502) 244-7772 or online for a free consultation and review of your C-section error claim.

What is a Cesarean Section?

A cesarean section is a surgical method of delivering a baby. Instead of being delivered vaginally, the baby is delivered through a surgical incision on the mother’s abdomen. This method of delivery comes with all the added risk of surgical procedures including hemorrhaging, infection, and anesthesia errors. While some cesarean sections are planned, some are the result of unexpected problems during labor and delivery. The decision to deliver a baby through cesarean section, whether it is planned or an emergency, is usually taken to protect the life of the mother and the baby. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cesarean sections represent approximately 32% of all deliveries in the United States.

A cesarean section may be considered in the following circumstances:

• The size of the baby is too big for a vaginal birth
• The baby is in breech or other abnormal position
• The mother is carrying multiple babies
• The mother has underlying health problems
• The baby is in distress during labor and must be delivered quickly
• Labor is not progressing as it should. 

Potential Risks Associated with Cesarean Sections

Cesarean sections are usually safe, but as with all medical procedures, no matter how small, there are associated risks.

Common complications of Cesarean sections include:

• Excessive bleeding during and after surgery
• Infection of the womb lining 
• Infection of the wound after surgery
• Blood clots
• Damage to the bladder
• Reactions to anesthesia

Birth Injuries From Delayed Cesarean Sections

If you or your child suffered injury because your doctor failed to schedule a cesarean section or negligently delayed performing an emergency cesarean section, you may be entitled to compensation for your or your baby’s injuries.

Birth injuries sustained from delayed cesarean sections can have a lifelong effect on victims. For example when during a prolonged labor, a baby may be at increased risk of oxygen deprivation, infection, and brain hemorrhage. These conditions during labor can lead to long-term medical complications for the baby, like cerebral palsy, seizures, and developmental delays.

A doctor is under a duty to treat a pregnant woman according to the applicable standard of care throughout their pregnancy and during labor. If a woman is showing signs that are indications of an emergency cesarean section and their doctor or nurse fails to facilitate a timely delivery, they may be held legally responsible for any injuries suffered by the mother or the baby. Reach out to a skilled birth injury lawyer in Louisville for compassionate legal help with your birth injury claim. 

Medical Negligence in Failure to Perform Cesarean Section

When doctors fail to recognize the signs that indicate a necessary cesarean section, and their failure results in injury to the mother or baby, they may be held liable for medical negligence. Medical negligence cases can be very complex and require the participation of medical experts to investigate the case and testify during trial. At Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC, we have in-house medical staff who understand the applicable standard of care in different medical situations, and assist the team of Louisville medical malpractice lawyers in preparing your case.

Doctors are held to a high standard of care when it comes to diagnosing and treating patients. This includes obstetricians who perform C-sections. They should act as a reasonable doctor would in the same or similar situation, based on the tools at hand. If they are negligent, careless, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or otherwise fail to uphold this standard, and injury results, they can be held accountable.

Contact Our Louisville C-Section Error Lawyers For Expert Legal Help

Our Louisville C-section error lawyers take on cases involving:

• Delayed C-section
• Performing a C-section too early
• Failure to recommend a C-section in a high-risk delivery
• Bowel or bladder laceration
• Leaving a sponge or surgical instrument behind
• Post-operative infection, blood clots, or hemorrhage

To find out how we can help you, call (502) 244-7772 . Our team of Louisville injury attorneys have been fighting for wrongly injured children across Kentucky since 1986 and have the experience, skill, and resources to help you. Contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a skilled Louisville birth injury lawyer today.