Obstetrical Negligence
Quality obstetrical care is essential to the health of mothers and babies. The failure of obstetricians and other medical professionals to adequately protect mothers and babies before, during and after birth can lead to serious injury and even death. Obstetrics and gynecology s one of the main fields that give rise to medical negligence compensation claims. Almost a half of all medical negligence claims are as a result of gynecological mistakes. The main causes for complaint that lead to legal action include:
| • Contraception |
| | o failure to prevent pregnancy
o thrombosis due to oral contraception
o effects of injectable hormone contraceptives
o side effect of contraceptive devices |
| • Complications of abortion |
| | o failure and sometimes wrongful birth
o perforation of uterus or damage to other organs
o loss of future childbearing capacity due to infection or due to subsequent need for a hysterectomy |
| • Gynecology surgery including diagnostic and operative laparoscopy |
| | o abdominal wall injury during laparoscopy
o failure to detect internal hemorrhage
o injury to bowel
o injury to bladder or uterus
o delay in diagnosis of pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy and genital cancer
o inadvertent sterilization by the introduction of infection
o failure to remove swabs
o failure to sterilization
o unnecessary procedures
o infection |
• Failure to sterilization which sometimes leads to abortion or wrongful birth |
| • Failure to interpret tests or act appropriately in cervical cancer cases |
Gynecology and obstetric negligence can have far-raching effect that can permanently alter the quality of life for the victim and her loved ones. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for obstetrical errors to lead to the death of a mother or child or severe damage to the brain and nerves. Most birth injuries can be prevented with appropriate medical care.
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