Group B Strep Malpractice

Group B strep malpractice can lead to serious injuries or even the death of a newborn. If your child was harmed due to this condition, you may be able to recover compensation through a medical malpractice claim. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore birth injury attorneys are dedicated to representing people who have been harmed by negligent health care providers. With extensive experience throughout the complex areas of medical malpractice law, we have guided our clients to many substantial settlements and verdicts.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of infection that can be passed from the mother to the baby. Group B strep bacteria usually reside in the intestines, rectum, and vagina. If untreated, the infection can cause devastating harm to the baby. In fact, an infant who is not immediately treated may develop long-term, severe disabilities. A group B strep infection in a baby can develop into pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis. In addition, babies exposed to GBS may suffer brain damage, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, or blindness.

More than 25 percent of women carry the group B strep, a bacteria that poses no harm to adults. Only one out of every 2,000 babies is affected by the condition. Since there are no physical symptoms, most carriers have no idea that they are carriers and could potentially transfer the bacteria to their newborn during the labor and delivery process. The medical community has long understood the potential dangers that GBS poses to newborns, which is why every pregnant woman should be tested for GBS in the third trimester of their pregnancy, irrespective of whether they were tested earlier in the pregnancy.

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes harm by failing to use the level of care that a reasonably prudent medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. It is considered medical malpractice when a mother and baby are not properly tested for group B strep, and when standards for treating the condition are not followed. For example, if GBS is detected in a pregnant mother, intravenous antibiotics could be administered during labor because they can dramatically reduce the risk of transmission to the infant. In short, if GBS is detected, but a medical professional takes no action to prevent transmission, and transmission occurs, that medical professional will likely be liable for malpractice.

To establish medical malpractice regarding GBS, your attorney would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the OBGYN owed the mother and baby a certain standard of care, the OBGYN violated that standard of care, and the violation was a direct and proximate cause of the baby’s harm. Each element must be present to recover compensation from the OBGYN or any other responsible parties.

Newborns are not the only ones who suffer harm when a medical mistake results in injuries. Parents can suffer significant emotional and financial strain as well. Fortunately, Maryland law allows victims of medical malpractice and their families to recover a variety of damages for their harm, including medical expenses incurred as a result of the malpractice, lost wages due to missed work, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation costs needed to deal with the injury. Each case is different, and the precise amount that you will be entitled to receive will vary based on the extent of the harm suffered.

If your doctor failed to properly diagnose or treat group B strep, you may have sufficient legal grounds to file a medical malpractice claim. The experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate Baltimore attorneys at Arfaa Law Group are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause. We can examine the facts of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options. For a free consultation with a lawyer about a potential group B strep malpractice claim, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.