Death From Negligent Prenatal Care
Getting pregnant is exciting for most women, but it also comes with the risk of experiencing complications along the way. Fortunately, a woman can visit a physician for regular prenatal checkups to make sure her baby is developing in a healthy manner. The checkups are also important for pinpointing complications that might cause the life of the mother and baby to be in danger. Sometimes even when a woman is receiving prenatal care, things can go wrong due to the physician providing services in a negligent manner, such causing the mother or baby to pass away. If you lost a loved one and her baby due to the negligent care of a physician, a wrongful death lawsuit is possible and a lawyer can help.
Early Complications During the Pregnancy
If you remember some of the complications that your loved one complained about before she passed away, it is information that a lawyer will want to know. However, don't worry if you don't know the fullest extent of her complications, as an investigation will help the lawyer find out about them. For example, he or she can take a look at your loved one's medial records, interview nurses, and find other ways to figure out what your loved one complained about during her pregnancy. The specific complications that your loved one complained about will be important throughout the legal dispute. Even something that seems minor such as experiencing headaches on a daily basis can point to serious underlying conditions during pregnancy.
How the Physician Responded to Complications
An important role that a lawyer will play in the lawsuit is to determine if the prenatal physician actually provided negligent care to your loved one. He or she will find out how the physician responded when your loved one complained about the complications she was experiencing. For example, if your loved one suddenly experienced abnormal headaches that never went away, a lawyer will find out if the physician simply recommended that she takes an over-the-counter pain medicine, or if he or she took more drastic actions. A scan of the brain may have been necessary to make sure there wasn't a tumor present or another serious complication that ultimately played a role in the death of your loved one and the baby.
Placing Liability on the Cause of Both Deaths
Just because the physician is found to be liable for the death of the mother, it doesn't necessarily mean that he or she caused the baby's death as well. For instance, providing inadequate care to the mother may have caused her death, but the baby's death could have occurred after he or she was delivered due to a nurse or other staff member handling him or her wrong. A wrongful death lawyer will determine the specific cause of death for both the mother and baby to ensure that the rightful parties are held liable in the lawsuit.