Improper use of Pitocin® during delivery is known to cause birth injuries. Our Texas attorneys explain your legal options.
Did you or your baby suffer an adverse event due to the improper use of Pitocin? Contact Rasansky | McKenzie Law today at (214) 651-6100 for free information on how we can help you obtain the justice and compensation your family deserves.
Pitocin® (oxytocin injection, USP) is a drug that is administered to women who are about to go into labor to help ripen the cervix, as well as induce artificial contractions.
Pitocin is a synthetic version of oxytocin (a naturally occurring hormone), similar to Syntocinon. The use of Pitocin during birth and delivery has been the subject of much controversy over the years due to the serious and sometimes fatal complications associated with improper use of the drug.
When medical professionals administer Pitocin, they must do so with extreme care due to its many risks. Doctors and nurses are supposed to closely monitor the baby’s (and mother’s) vital signs to ensure everything goes as planned. Failing to discontinue Pitocin after an adverse reaction or event can open the hospital up to a serious medical malpractice lawsuit.
Our entire legal team is focused on one word: You. You are the most important part of our practice: you, your family, your suffering, your livelihood, and your needs. Let us put our passion for helping others to work for you.
Despite the fact that Pitocin is commonly used during the birthing process, in some situations, its use could lead to dangerous complications. Here are just a few:
Uterine rupture – Due to the unnatural way in which Pitocin stimulates pelvic floor muscles, pregnant women are more likely to suffer from uterine rupture as contractions get stronger and stronger.
Decreased fetal heart rate – The unborn child may have vital resources taken away from them in the womb as the mother’s body tries to get its systems back in equilibrium. This can lead to a weak fetal heart rate, which can then jeopardize the functioning of various organs in the unborn baby and may lead to the development of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and even cerebral palsy.
Brain damage – Since contractions caused by Pitocin are so strong, both the baby and mother may suffer baby brain damage brought on by hemorrhages, strokes, and/or hypoxia.
Embolism caused by amniotic fluid – As the contractions caused by Pitocin continue to get stronger, it’s possible for amniotic fluid to leak into the mother’s bloodstream, causing blood clots throughout her body. When these clots travel to vital organs such as the heart, lungs, or brain, they often prove fatal.
Stillbirth – A child that suffers fetal distress as a result of the adverse effects of Pitocin may suffer an intrauterine death or intrapartum death.
Experience counts when it comes to Pitocin-related birth injury cases.
If you believe that the use of Pitocin led to your child’s birth injuries, call (214) 651-6100 and let us evaluate your claim, free of charge. Rasansky | McKenzie Law has extensive experience litigating and settling Pitocin-related birth injury claims, and we never ask you to pay a penny out of pocket; we only get paid if we win your case!
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a birth injury?
Birth injuries can occur for a number of different reasons. In some cases the child’s head is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis. Other times the placenta become detached prematurely or the umbilical cord is compressed or twisted. Also, when a physician uses forceps or a vacuum during a vaginal birth, injury to the brain can result. In many of these instances time is of the essence. The doctor is responsible for knowing when a cesarean section is necessary in order to avoid injury to the child.
There is no way to completely eliminate the risk of birth injury, but some risk factors that can lead to trouble during child birth are drawn out labor, atypical positioning of the baby, too much Pitocin given to the mother, larger than average sized baby, premature birth and the use of forceps or vacuum.
Expectant parents tend to anticipate a relatively smooth birth process and a healthy baby. In the majority of cases this will be the outcome. Sadly, there are some instances where birth injury and possible lasting effects will result. If you or a loved one has a child affected by a condition that was caused by birth injury and you believe it resulted from negligence on the part of the medical staff, we can offer a free assessment of your case. We have extensive knowledge in the areas of birth injuries and medical malpractice, and will be happy to advise you of your options moving forward.
What is birth injury malpractice?
Medical malpractice relates to birth injury in cases where the medical professional charged with you and your baby’s care fails to provide appropriate care during pregnancy, during the delivery process, or shortly after the child is born.
To better understand birth injuries and how they can be caused by medical and/or nursing mistakes, first you need to understand the concept of medical malpractice. The following will explain what medical malpractice means, statistics and some general tips for selecting the right doctor and avoiding medical mistakes.
A birth injury is an injury that can happen prior to birth, during the labor and delivery process, or in the neonatal or “newborn” period. Injuries that occur during the prenatal period can be attributed to untreated infection such as Group B Streptoccoccus, placental insufficiency or abruption, and preterm birth causing respiratory distress and brain hemorrhage.
Labor and delivery injuries can be caused from a health care provider failing to recognize fetal distress during labor signaling decreased oxygen being delivered to the baby’s brain resulting in injuries to brain structures responsible for movement, cognition, vision, swallowing, and coordination. Additional injuries that occur during labor and delivery can be related to CPD or “cephalo-pelvic disproportion” whereby the baby’s head is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis during the birthing process.
Did you know?
Rasansky | McKenzie Law negotiated a settlement of more than $10 million on behalf of an infant who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of medical and nursing malpractice. We have also obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements for children who suffered other types of birth injuries caused by medical malpractice.
What should I do if my child suffered a birth injury?
The first and most important issue to deal with after a birth injury is caring for the health of the baby and the mother. Get advice, treatment, and support from medical professionals you trust, and do not be afraid to get a second opinion. Also, be sure to take advantage of counseling and therapy options if you or your family needs help processing what happened.
After the health and well-being of your family is under control, you may wish to speak with a Dallas birth injury lawyer. A medical malpractice attorney can help you better understand what caused your baby’s injury, collect the evidence of the case, and enumerate your legal options if you choose to take action.
A birth injury is traumatic for the entire family – and one mistake in labor and delivery can lead to a lifetime of medical costs, nursing care, disability, and therapy. If you believe that your child’s injury was caused by negligence, you owe it to your family to ensure that the person or hospital responsible for your child’s injury pays for the consequences of their negligent actions. If someone else caused the injury, why should the financial burden be placed on your family?
Is my child entitled to compensation?
Typically, it is not the parent but the child who will be awarded compensation, as it was the child who was injured by the doctor’s negligence making the child entitled to compensation. If you win your birth injury claim/lawsuit against the doctor/hospital, compensation is usually delivered in the form of a trust. Keep in mind though that parents can sue for emotional distress—or if the mother was also injured because of the doctor’s behavior. If the child dies because of a doctor’s negligence, the compensation goes to the parents.
What are the main types of birth injuries?
There are many types of injuries that can occur during pregnancy and delivery, ranging from minor to severe. Among the most common types of birth injuries are:
- Cerebral palsy.
- Brachial plexus injuries (Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s palsy).
- Infections (B strep, meningitis).
- Baby brain damage.
- Bruising and bleeding beneath the cranial bones.
- Bone fractures and nerve damage (often to the upper arm).
- Shoulder dystocia.
- Spina bifida.
- Folic acid deficiency, anemia.
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension.
- Blood flow and/or oxygen being cut off to the baby during delivery (causing anoxic brain injury, hypoxia, birth asphyxia, or perinatal asphyxia).
- Wrongful death.
Will my child's birth injury go away?
Birth injuries do not always lead to serious and lasting harm to the child. Many of them will heal on their own with no medical intervention. In some incidences, however, birth injuries result in chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, or Klumpke’s palsy.
Of these, cerebral palsy is probably the most concerning, as the others do sometimes improve or resolve. Cerebral palsy can affect coordination, reflexes, gait, muscle tone, and mental capabilities. In a study among six countries, the incidence of cerebral palsy was estimated to be between 2.12 – 2.45 cases per 1000 births.
If you’re concerned whether or not your child’s injuries will improve, the best course of action is to speak to your pediatrician. If you’d like to have an attorney look into the facts of your case, call us at (214) 651-6100.
Speak With a Dallas Birth Injury Attorney For Free
The attorneys at Rasansky | McKenzie Law are happy to speak to you about your potential case free of charge. If we can help with your claim, we’ll do so for no out-of-pocket cost to you. Call us 24/7 at (214) 651-6100.
