Failure to Perform C-Section Properly: Birth Injury

A Cesarean section – often called a “C-section” for short – is a major surgery conducted to deliver a child by a surgical incision made through the mother’s abdomen and uterine wall. C-sections carry a risk of injury to the mother and birth injury to the infant and thus should only be performed when medically necessary. Despite the risks, C-sections are sometimes necessary to prevent injury to the mother and infant; they account for almost 20 percent of births in the United States.

In some tragic situations, mistakes are made during a C-section surgery. When there is a failure to perform C-section properly it can cause personal injury to the mother or birth injury to the infant. In these cases victims may have the right to recover damages through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Failure to perform C-section properly injury risks

The personal injury risks for C-section include:

• Bleeding and internal organ damage
• Improper wound closure resulting in infection or sepsis
• Nerve damage
• Blood clots
• Lacerated bowels or other internal organs
• Lung and heart complications

The birth injury risks for C-section include:

• Broken bones
• Oxygen deprivation
• Lacerations

These complications can create lifelong medical issues or even result in death for the mother or infant. An extended period of oxygen deprivation is particularly dangerous for infants who may experience permanent brain damage, injury to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, digestive organs, kidneys and more.

Brain damage symptoms

Some symptoms of brain damage are immediately noticeable while others do not present until later when the infant fails to develop normally. Common brain damage symptoms include:

• Unusual reactions to stimuli and interactions. Examples include refusing nourishment and extreme crying or high-pitched wailing.
• Abnormalities in physical appearance. Note that physical appearance symptoms are not always apparent when an infant has brain damage. Examples include difficulty focusing their eyes, unusually small skull, abnormally large forehead, deformed spine or facial features.
• Developmental delays. When an infant or toddler does not crawl, walk, talk or swallow appropriately for their age a parent may wish to seek the advice of a physician to determine whether the physical delays are abnormal and associated with brain damage. Keep in mind that infants and toddlers develop at their own pace and in most cases, delays are not related to brain damage.

When is a C-section error medical negligence?

As with all medical malpractice cases, a strict standard must be met in order to qualify as medical negligence. When a “reasonable standard of care” is not met while performing a C-section, a victim may be able to sue for surgical error.

Failure to perform a C-section properly

Even if an OB/GYN recognizes, in a timely manner, that a C-section is necessary, the doctor still has a duty to perform the surgery in a non-negligent manner. Unfortunately, medical errors are sometimes made which can result in serious injuries or even death.

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC have years of experience representing families harmed by medical malpractice. We seek justice for patients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors including birth injuries, hospital-acquired infections and wrongful death in Seattle and across Washington State. There are no fees or expenses to file a personal injury case as we only receive payment if we recover damages on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims come with a Statute of Limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time frame of the injury.

Call us now at (206) 752-4366 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate, experienced attorneys.