Over one million children are delivered by cesarean section in the United States every year, which totals one-third of all births, as determined by research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While this is a common procedure for many new mothers, unfortunately, cesarean sections (also known as C-sections) can result in severe injury or even death if they are performed incorrectly. If you suffered injuries due to the negligence of a physician, anesthesiologist, nurse or any other hospital employee as a direct result of your cesarean section, or if your baby was injured during a cesarean section, contact a personal injury attorney to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Types of Cesarean Sections
There are two types of cesarean section births, either planned or unplanned. While both are considered major surgery, one is completely planned in advance, including the date of the medical procedure. This type of planned cesarean section is also known as an elective cesarean section. If a woman begins to go into labor and the physician makes a determination that a cesarean section is needed for the health of the mother or child, this is considered an emergency cesarean section, or unplanned cesarean section. These decisions are typically determined between a mother and the physician.
Cesarean Section Injuries
Due to the fact that a cesarean section is considered by the medical community to actually be serious abdominal surgery, a cesarean section may result in severe complications just like all other types of major surgery. Unfortunately, unplanned cesarean sections result in babies that are four times more likely to die than those born vaginally. Additionally, according to the United States National Library of Medicine – National Institutes of Health, a cesarean section causes a woman to have a three times higher risk of death than a mother who delivers vaginally.
Medical Malpractice Case
If the injury to a child or mother following a cesarean section is determined to be the direct result of negligence on the part of the physician, hospital staff, anesthesiologist, nurse, or any other hospital or medical professional, the victim likely has a strong case for medical malpractice. If a victim can prove that the medical professional breached a duty of care established as a standard in the medical community regarding the cesarean section, and the victim received actual physical, emotional, and/or financial damages as a result of that breach, the victim may be able to bring a personal injury claim for compensation..
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney
Having a cesarean section is undergoing major surgery, and while it is common throughout the United States, it can still be a terrifying experience. If you, or your child, suffered any kind of injuries as a result of negligence from any medical professional, you may have the right to bring a personal injury claim for medical malpractice against them to receive compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact an experienced personal injury and medical malpractice attorney at Griggs Injury Law at (816) 474-0202 to help you understand how to build a strong personal injury case for your cesarean section injury today.
