In recent years, C-sections, known as cesareans, have started to increase in number. In previous years, there were not as many of these procedures as there is today. In fact, Florida is the top 3 state that performs C-sections all around the United States. There could be a number of reasons for that and one of them being the advancement in medicine. A C-section is performed when a mother cannot have the baby through natural means for whatever reason that may be. Some cesareans are planned, while others are an emergency. Despite why the procedure is performed, there are threats associated with this surgical procedure, like any other operation.
A woman might absolutely need a C-section in order for her baby to survive, or for her own well-being. Doctors have to make the decision of what to proceed with, especially when they have just a few minutes to decide like when the infant is in fetal distress. If appropriate measures are not taken while performing a C-section, both the infant and mother are put at risk. There could be a medical negligence during the operation where the surgeon slits the bladder of the mother or a delay to perform the operation that restricts oxygen to the baby. Whichever medical negligence was performed, medical malpractice lawyer in Orlando know how crucial it is for everyone involved that the operation is performed with extreme care and caution.
There is always a risk for extreme injuries and even death during any surgical procedure, that is no different with a C-section. Not only is there one like at risk, but here are two lives at stake. For this reason, health care professionals need to be twice as careful and prevent the occurrence of any injury that could have been avoided. If medical negligence was the key factor during the cesarean, then a medical malpractice claim can be sought in Orlando with an attorney that emphasizes in that area.
Cesarean Medical Negligence
Many injuries can derive from a mistake during a C-section. While there are many injuries, there are only a few medical negligence’s that can occur that can lead to those injuries. Those negligence’s include:
Not effectively performing the C-section
When a C-section is not properly done, a number of injuries can manifest themselves. Cesareans are a very delicate procedure because the physician is performing an incision on the mother’s skin, close to other parts of the body. If the surgeon does not perform the incision on the correct area, cuts the mother too deep, does not use the appropriate surgical tools, fails to communicate with his surgical team, does not stop excessive bleeding, among others, the outcome could be disastrous.
Delaying the process to perform one, and
Typically, when there are signs of fetal distress, the physician has a split second to decide what to do. The infant does not receive adequate amounts of oxygen the more time that is wasted thinking about what to do next. This delay to perform the surgery can lead to brain asphyxia and more medical conditions like cerebral palsy.
Not performing one when needed
There are many physicians that will not perform a C-section even though there are indicators that they should like a prolonged labor. If something does not look right, most likely it is not. Not performing a C-section when it is needed could be risky for both the infant and mother. If the mother has been hours and hours trying to push and nothing is happening, then the surgeon should opt for a surgery.
Unplanned or Planned Cesarean?
Once a mother becomes pregnant, the outcome of it all is often unexpected, despite what doctors may tell the mother. Even at the last minute, things can dramatically change. A mother may have planned a natural birth at home but as she approached her due date, the infant was not in the position to be birthed naturally. Sadly, many women don’t get the birth experience they longed for, but the end result should be what matters, having that healthy baby in the mother’s arms. In order to understand the reasons for C-sections, one must understand why they are planned and unplanned.
Cesareans That Are Planned
Most women will have a planned C-section for the following reasons:
- Expectant mother has more than one baby inside her womb
- Mother has a condition that can be transmitted to the baby via birth canal like an STD or STI
- Repeat C-section
- Baby is not positioned correctly
- Mother is too weak to give birth naturally due to a medical condition
- Mother elected to have it
Cesareans That Are Not Planned
These are often referred to as emergency C-sections. These are the typical reasons for them:
- Mother or infant is in distress
- Labor has lasted for too long
- Umbilical cord is wrapped around baby’s neck, limiting oxygen to its brain
- Baby is too large to come out of the birth canal without suffering an injury
Injuries can occur in both instances, regardless of the operation being planned or not. While C-sections are usually performed to ensure the safe delivery of the infant and the well-being of the mother, mistakes occur and injuries can take place. Some injuries that can come from a medical negligence during a surgery in Orlando include:
- Lacerations
- Scarring
- Erb’s Palsy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Birth Asphyxia
- Wrongful Death
- Premature delivery
- Shoulder dystocia
- Excessive bleeding
Things to Know About Cesareans
- Every year, there are about four million infants that are born
- About 32% of live births are performed via C-section (1,272,503 births)
- Florida has a 37.8% birth rate through C-section
- 14 wrongful deaths occur per 100,000 women that perform a C-section
- Women who have C-sections have a higher chance of experiencing placenta abruption during their second pregnancy
- Recovery time for a C-section is more than double of that for natural birth
- Per every three births, one will be done by a cesarean
- 2% of women will either acquire an infection or suffer excessive bleeding following a C-section
FAQS About C-section Medical Malpractice in Orlando
Question: C-sections are performed for what reasons?
Answer: C-sections have been occurring more frequently compared to 20 years ago. The main reasons for C-sections have been due to the baby not being in the proper position (breached), prolonged labor, and fetal distress. Sometimes these procedures are planned, while other times they are unexpected. Anything can happen during the delivery of an infant, this is why it is crucial to be prepared for anything.
Question: What medical negligence can happen during a cesarean?
Answer: When a medical negligence happens during a procedure like a C-section, severe consequences can result. The mother may have received too much anesthesia, the surgeon may have cut into the abdomen and uterus too deep, or the baby may have been improperly handled once the incision was made. A number of medical mistakes can occur during this delicate procedure.
Question: Have C-sections been increasing throughout the years?
Answer: Yes, they have. The wanted percentage of C-sections is between 10 to 15%, but the national average is about 32%. In some states, that percentage is higher. For example, Florida is close to the 40%, at 37% rate.
Question: Can a mother die from a C-section?
Answer: Not only can the mother die, but the infant as well. In fact, for every 100,000 cesareans that are performed, 14 mothers will die. With every surgery, there are risks. It just so happens that the risk for a C-section affects two individuals rather than one.
Question: Who can be accountable if something goes wrong during my C-section?
Answer: Not just the surgeon can be found liable if something goes wrong during a cesarean section. Anyone in that delivery room who is assisting during the procedure can be found liable, including the anesthesiologist administering the anesthetic drugs, the medical professional assisting the surgeon, and even the nurse.
Orlando C-Section Medical Malpractice Lawyers
A cesarean section might be required for the safety of the mother and infant. Despite the physician performing the procedure on time, they have to do so with a good quality standard of care. If anyone in that delivery room does not abide by the standard of care, they are putting two lives at risks, or more depending on how many babies that mother is carrying. Improperly performing a C-section, not performing one at all, or delaying the process of one can leave severe consequences and can even be the wrongful death of either the infant or mother and in extreme cases, both.
The Orlando medical malpractice attorneys at Percy Martinez Law Firm understand that going through a planned cesarean section is already scary for the mother, and even more so for a mother who had an emergency one. Recovering from a C-section is not as quick as natural birth and on top of that, the mother has to be caring for the infant while trying to heal. It is not easy, and that is something that the firm of Percy Martinez medical malpractice lawyers are well aware of. The firm is here to guide their clients down the right path.
Find us here:
Percy Martinez – Medical Malpractice Lawyer
- 27 N Orange Ave, #533
- Orlando, FL – 32801
- (407) 926-6608