Maryland Attorney for Missed, Ignored, or Misinterpreted Fetal Heart Monitor

New parents expect that a medical practitioner will act responsibly when treating a newborn. However, if a doctor or nurse fails to correctly read a fetal heart monitor, this could lead to a number of serious medical issues for a newborn. When this happens, you can seek a legal claim against the medical practitioners responsible. If you need legal assistance to pursue a doctor for medical malpractice, you should consult with an experienced Maryland attorney for misinterpreted fetal heart monitor injuries.

Rice, Murtha & Psoras is dedicated to providing you with the legal representation that you deserve to handle your malpractice case. Medical malpractice lawyer Randolph Rice has litigated a wide variety of birth injury cases, and he would be pleased to work with you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential case, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You may also contact the firm to schedule an appointment by using our online submission form.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Missed or Ignored Fetal Heart Monitor Readings in Maryland

Fetal heart rate monitoring is a vital part of checking on the status of an infant in the womb. As a mother enters labor, a doctor and the medical staff as a whole should be sure to pay close attention to any drastic changes in the baby’s heart rate. However, some medical practitioners can fail to notice changes in the baby’s heart rate, which could cause them to miss a reading that may indicate that there is an issue with the baby’s health.

There are two methods that are used for fetal heart rate monitoring: internal monitoring and external monitoring. Internal monitoring is when a medical provider places a device on the infant’s scalp as dilation occurs, and the infant begins to move through the birth canal. External monitoring is when a heart-rate monitor is fastened around the mother’s stomach in order to check heart rate and contractions.

These two forms of monitoring can be used to check for a number of health problems. Normally, a baby will have a heart rate of 110 to 160 beats per minute (BPM). If a baby’s BPM falls outside these parameters, this could signify a serious health issue. For example, if an infant’s heart rate goes higher than 160 BPM (tachycardia) or lower than 110 BPM (bradycardia), a medical practitioner should be concerned about the infant’s health.

Failing to notice an irregular fetal heart monitor reading could lead to a serious injury for an infant and a possible medical malpractice claim. To learn more about common injuries caused by misinterpreted fetal heart readings, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Maryland birth injury lawyer today about filing a medical malpractice claim.

Common Birth Injuries from Fetal Heart Monitor Reading Mistakes in Maryland

There are many birth injuries that can result from ignored or misinterpreted fetal heart monitor readings. If your child experienced any of the following birth injuries, you should consider contacting an experienced Maryland birth injury attorney to discuss a possible medical malpractice lawsuit.

Brain Damage

A low BPM could signify that a child is not receiving sufficient oxygen during delivery. If a doctor notices that a child is experiencing bradycardia, they should act quickly to avoid causing the child any injuries. However, if a doctor ignores an abnormal heart reading, an infant could be deprived of oxygen for a period of time during delivery, which could lead to serious brain damage.

An infant that experiences brain damage could suffer from a number of health issues like paralysis or missed developmental milestones and could even enter a coma.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a severe health condition that often occurs because a doctor caused a child to suffer a traumatic brain injury. For example, if a doctor misused birthing instruments by using excessive to pull the child from the womb with forceps, this could cause a child to develop cerebral palsy. As a result, a child could have issues with muscle control and may even experience a loss of sensation in certain areas of the body.

Stillbirth

A stillbirth is when an infant dies before or during delivery. When a doctor fails to monitor the heart rate of a child during delivery, it is possible that the child could become distressed and be stillborn.

There are many other birth injuries that may result from improper fetal heart monitoring. If your child’s doctor committed negligence when treating your child, you should consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against them. In some cases, you may have a valid malpractice case against the employer of the doctor.

Do not hesitate to speak with an experienced Maryland medical malpractice lawyer for fetal heart monitor errors as soon as possible. Waiting too long to file your case could substantially affect your case in a number of ways.

Work with Our Committed Maryland Lawyer for Missed, Ignored, or Misinterpreted Fetal Heart Monitor Errors

If your child was a victim of medical malpractice, you should work with an experienced Maryland lawyer for birth injuries caused by ignored fetal heart monitors. Rice, Murtha & Psoras is here to fight for you. Medical malpractice lawyer Randolph Rice has over 20 years of legal experience, and we are ready to work with you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential case, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You may also contact the firm online.