Phoenix Postpartum Negligence Lawyers
Representing Arizona families dealing with birth and maternal injuries from poor postpartum care
The moments, days, and weeks following a birth are critical to mother and child – not only for emotional bonding, but also to ensure that both parties are doing well and staying healthy. Birth can be traumatic even under the best of circumstances, and postpartum negligence can lead to long-term injuries and harms. Here at Plattner Verderame, P.C., we know that you put your trust in the obstetrician, nurses, and hospital where you gave birth. If that trust was betrayed by an act of medical negligence, you have the right to claim damages for your injuries. Our Phoenix postpartum injury lawyers fight for families who have been injured through no fault of their own. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
What is postpartum negligence?
Postpartum means “following childbirth,” and usually refers to the weeks and months after a new mother gives birth. Postpartum negligence, therefore, is a form of medical malpractice that takes place after the baby is born. It can happen immediately following a birth or not, and cause injury to the mother and/or the child.
Examples of postpartum negligence can include:
- Failing to monitor the mother or child following the birth
- Failing to diagnose and/or treat infections
- Adding an extra stitch after an episiotomy without obtaining consent from the mother
- Medication errors
- Failing to diagnose and treat conditions like jaundice
- Failing to take a mother or child to intensive care, if applicable
- Causing physical injuries to the baby
- Discharging a mother and/or child too early
Negligent acts like these can have permanent effects on the mother or her child. For example, many mothers sustain hairline fractures during natural childbirth: some cannot be avoided, but others may be the result of excessively forceful contractions after using a medication like Pitocin. If the OB/GYN fails to diagnose these fractures, and the mother does not realize she is putting excessive pressure on her pelvis, the fractures can worsen, leading to permanent damage. This, in turn, can lead to damage to her reproductive organs and sterility, or incontinence. This is why committed, detailed postpartum care is necessary.
Injuries resulting from negligent postpartum care in Arizona hospitals
Poor post-birth care can lead to serious health concerns. Failure to diagnose jaundice, for example, can allow the condition to advance into kernicterus, a life-threatening medical condition that often results in seizures and permanent brain damage. Failure to assess how much blood a woman has lost during birth can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which may lead to stroke or hemorrhage.
Other injuries and illnesses that can develop in a mother due to postpartum negligence include:
- Infections
- Sepsis
- Eclampsia
- Postpartum preeclampsia
- Brain damage
- Hemorrhage
- Stroke
- Heart attacks
The baby may be at risk of:
- Bone fractures
- Infection
- Developmental delays
- Cognitive delays
- Cerebral palsy
- Respiratory distress
- Vision or hearing loss
Are my injuries related to postpartum negligence? Are my baby’s?
Medical science has come a very long way, but nothing is absolute – and doctors are imperfect. Sometimes, an injury sustained after childbirth will occur even when mother and child are getting the very best of care. Other times, doctors may make mistakes that are quickly rectified, so no permanent harm is done.
Sometimes, however, a doctor or a nurse will behave in a way that is counter to the accepted standard of medical care, and those actions will lead to catastrophic injuries. When that occurs, you may be able to make a claim for medical malpractice. Under Arizona law, to make a successful claim, you must be able to prove:
- That a doctor/client relationship existed
- That the doctor behaved in a negligent manner
- That this negligence lead to your injuries
- That your injuries led to damages
To do this, the Phoenix postpartum injury attorneys of Plattner Verderame, P.C. will review your medical records and the records of your child, and investigate what happened in the minutes, days, and weeks following the birth. This information helps us create a more accurate and just assessment of what types of damages you may be entitled to receive.
Claiming damages for postpartum negligence
In Arizona, you generally have two years to file a medical malpractice claim for negligent postpartum care. “Damages” are compensation for specific types of losses. You could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including hospital stays and medications
- Future medical expenses associated with long term care, including medications and adaptive technologies
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential (for mother and child)
- Pain and suffering, both physical and mental
- Punitive damages in cases where the negligence was committed with malicious intentions
Punitive damages are rare in these types of cases, but not impossible. Our attorneys can help you understand why you may or may not be entitled to claim them.
Let our Phoenix postpartum negligence lawyers help
At Plattner Verderame, P.C., we want the best for all of our clients in Arizona, now and in the future. We will fight to ensure that justice is served, and that you are protected. If you believe you have been a victim of postpartum negligence, or that medical negligence has caused you or your loved one harm, our Phoenix injury attorneys are here to help. Please call 602-783-8793 or fill out our contact form, and schedule your free consultation today.