Mothers and babies suffer injuries from the use of forceps
You may be among the thousands of Tucson residents excitedly awaiting the arrival of a newborn. During your pregnancy, you imagine what your baby will look like, holding your baby and watching him or her grow. Another concern you may have is getting through the birthing process.
Giving birth is, without a doubt, one of the most natural human processes in the world. However, complications can arise, and medical intervention may be necessary in order to bring your bundle of joy into the world. If your labor stalls or your child is too large to travel through the birth canal without help, your doctor may tell you that he or she needs to use forceps to assist in the delivery.
Using forceps can be risky business
Even though the majority of births involving forceps end with healthy babies and mothers, not all turn out that way. Certain risks associated with their use could leave you or your baby with permanent injuries. The risks are different for mother and child. The risks to your newborn when using forceps include the following:
- Skull fractures
- Facial palsy
- Bleeding within the skull
- Seizures
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
The risks to you when using forceps include the following:
- Uterine rupture
- Anemia
- Lower genital tract injuries
- Temporary or permanent urinary incontinence
- Temporary or permanent fecal incontinence
- Urethra or bladder injuries
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Difficulty emptying your bladder
- Difficulty urinating
- Perineum pain
The fact is that any of these injuries can occur in a normal vaginal delivery, but when forceps are used, the odds increase.
Using forceps takes skill and care
Not surprisingly, using forceps requires a great deal of care and skill in order to prevent injury to mother and baby. When a doctor fails to conduct the procedure properly, you and your baby could suffer for it. Making a mistake or negligently using forceps could constitute a breach of the standard of care owed to you by your doctor.
Such conduct could take what should have been a joyous time in your life and turn it into a nightmare. Whether you, your baby or both of you suffered injuries due to a doctor's mistake or negligence, you have rights. Of course, it won't be possible to go back in time and fix the problem, but you could pursue compensation and some sense of justice for the injuries the doctor caused.
Using the legal system
You can explore the legal option of filing a medical malpractice claim through the civil courts. These cases often require the expertise of a medical professional to conduct an investigation into your case and render an opinion regarding whether your care fell below the accepted standards. Gathering the information required for this review and knowing what to do with the opinion once you receive it often requires an attorney.
Medical malpractice cases are complex by their very nature. Few people outside the medical profession could positively say whether negligence or mistake led to the injuries you suffered. You would more than likely have a better chance of success with the appropriate advice and assistance.