Legal Issues with Delayed C-Section and Pitocin

Doctors often use pitocin to induce labor when a woman may be past her due date or if labor has become stalled. However, the side effects of pitocin can cause serious harm when not used properly. Pitocin is the synthetic form of Oxytocin, which is the hormone naturally produced in a woman’s body that stimulates labor.

The Harmful Effects of Pitocin

There are many valid reasons an obstetrician may decide to induce labor. If the mother shows signs of a uterine infection, preeclampsia or has reached a term of 42 weeks, the doctor may decide to start the labor process. Unfortunately, there are many risks involved when using Pitocin, which can be detrimental to both the baby and mother. Some of these include:

• Placental abruption
• Uterine rupture (this can occur more often in women who have given birth before via c-section)
• Fetal distress such as a decreased fetal heart rate
• Increased risk of cesarean section
• An increase in pain during contractions

The use of Pitocin directly contributes to more women needing an epidural which can increase forceps delivery, vacuum extraction or the need for an emergency c-section.

When using Pitocin, many errors occur due to a failure in properly monitoring the condition of the fetus. If medical professionals fail to respond in an appropriate timeframe, the baby can be deprived of oxygen, resulting in severe brain damage or death.

Delayed C-Section and Possible Injuries

A cesarean section is the term used to describe how a baby is delivered through surgical incision. While some of these operations are planned, there are many reasons why an emergency c-section may be necessary. Some of the most serious medical malpractice cases are the result of a doctor’s inaction. When the doctors fail to act, delay or refuse to perform a c-section, the mother and baby can suffer lifelong injuries. The types of injuries most often seen in these cases include:

• A brachial plexus injury, also known as Erb’s palsy occurs when the nerves in the shoulder and neck are torn during birth.
• Hypoxia which occurs when the infant is deprived of oxygen
• Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby’s shoulder is compacted against the pelvis during birth
• Brain or nerve damage

There are many reasons why an obstetrician may decide against performing a c-section, such as policies regarding insurance payments or it’s just plain inconvenient for them.

When to Seek Legal Help

Most women trust their doctors to give them excellent medical care. When they fail to perform their duty in a responsible manner, the consequences can be severe. Delaying a c-section when it is medically necessary to avoid trauma to the baby is an error in professional judgment. When this happens, it is time to hire an experienced medical malpractice attorney to obtain damages for the injuries and hold the medical professionals responsible for the actions.