Delivery Trauma Arising From Inadequate Communication

Clear communication and understanding between the patient and healthcare providers is a key component of optimal care during labor and delivery. Breakdowns in communication may not only result in a birth experience that does not align with the mother’s plan but can also potentially result in significant complications. Delivery trauma arising from inadequate communication can cause lasting harm, and people who sustain such losses have the right to seek compensation via medical malpractice claims. If you believe the harm your child sustained was the result of a doctor’s negligence, it is in your best interest to talk to an attorney as soon as possible. The experienced Baltimore birth injury attorneys of Arfaa Law Group are skilled at handling complex claims against healthcare providers, and if you hire us, we can advise you of your options for seeking justice.

Delivery trauma arising from inadequate communication among medical staff can have significant consequences for both the mother and the newborn. Proper documentation of pregnancy, labor, and delivery is essential to ensure that relevant medical information is timely distributed to the appropriate members of the healthcare team. However, mistakes may occur due to communication breakdowns, leading to inadequate follow-up and potentially resulting in injuries to the baby.

In scenarios where critical information is omitted or inaccurately conveyed during labor, the consequences can be severe. For instance, if a nurse fails to relay vital signs or pertinent patient history to the attending doctor, crucial details about the mother's condition may be overlooked, potentially delaying necessary interventions such as emergency cesarean sections.

Moreover, inadequate communication regarding fetal distress poses risks to the newborn's well-being. If signs of distress, such as abnormal heart rate patterns, are not promptly communicated to the medical team, appropriate measures to safeguard the baby's health may be delayed. Consequently, the newborn could experience oxygen deprivation during labor, resulting in brain damage and lifelong consequences.

Delivery trauma arising from communication errors can cause physical impairments and significant financial losses. As such, many people impacted by such mistakes will often pursue compensation for their injuries via medical malpractice lawsuits.

A plaintiff pursuing medical malpractice claims will typically base their case on allegations of negligence. In Maryland, establishing a defendant's negligence involves proving that the defendant had a duty of care towards the plaintiff and breached this duty. A doctor's duty of care entails providing treatment that meets the standard of care expected in their field, which is determined by what a competent practitioner with similar expertise would do in comparable circumstances. Any deviation from this standard constitutes a breach. In the majority of cases, testimony from a medical expert is essential to establish both the standard of care and how the defendant failed to meet it.

Additionally, the plaintiff must demonstrate measurable damages and establish causation, connecting their damages to the harm they suffered, which typically also requires expert testimony.

Compensation awarded in birth injury cases typically covers both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost income, and other financial harm, while non-economic damages encompass physical and emotional pain, suffering, and psychological trauma.

Delivery trauma arising from inadequate communication can cause lifelong injuries, and the healthcare providers that cause such losses should be held accountable. If your child was hurt due to the carelessness of a doctor or nurse, you should confer with an attorney regarding your possible causes of action. The knowledgeable Baltimore birth injury lawyers of Arfaa Law Group advocate aggressively for victims of medical malpractice, and if we represent you, we can inform you of your options and gather any evidence in your favor to provide you with a strong chance of obtaining a favorable outcome. Our office is in Baltimore, and we regularly represent parties seeking damages in birth injury lawsuits throughout the city. You can contact us through our form online or at 410-889-1850 to arrange a meeting.