Obstetric Malpractice: Beyond Birth Injuries

Pregnancy and childbirth should be joyous experiences, but when medical professionals fail in their duty of care, the consequences can be devastating. Obstetric malpractice occurs when OB-GYNs, nurses, or other healthcare providers act negligently during prenatal care, labor, delivery, or postpartum recovery, leading to serious injuries or even death.

At Matzus Law, LLC, we understand how deeply traumatic these cases are. Families put their trust in medical professionals to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery. When that trust is broken, the emotional and financial consequences can be overwhelming. Our Pennsylvania birth injury attorneys fight for the rights of mothers and families who have suffered due to medical errors, failure to diagnose complications, and negligent obstetric care.

If you or your child suffered due to a preventable medical mistake, you have legal rights. Our experienced team is here to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable and help you secure the financial compensation you need for medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering.

What is Obstetric Malpractice?

When Medical Negligence Leads to Maternal or Fetal Harm
Obstetric malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care during pregnancy, labor, or postpartum recovery, causing injury to the mother or baby. Doctors and medical teams have a responsibility to detect and manage pregnancy complications, respond quickly to medical emergencies, and provide proper postpartum care.

When they fail to do so, the results can be severe or even life-threatening. These errors can lead to maternal hemorrhage, fetal distress, birth injuries, permanent disabilities, or even wrongful death.

Common Examples of Obstetric Malpractice

Failure to Diagnose or Treat Maternal Health Conditions

Many pregnancy-related complications require early detection and immediate medical intervention. When a doctor fails to diagnose or mismanages conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, or infections, both the mother and baby are put at serious risk.

Failure to treat these conditions can lead to:

• Severe maternal health complications
• Stillbirth or fetal distress
• Long-term disabilities for the baby

Medical professionals must closely monitor high-risk pregnancies and take appropriate action when complications arise.

Labor and Delivery Errors

Mistakes made during labor and delivery can have permanent consequences for both mother and child. Some of the most common forms of negligence include:

• Failure to recognize fetal distress, leading to oxygen deprivation and brain damage
• Delayed or denied emergency C-section, resulting in severe birth injuries
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction, causing trauma to the baby’s head or shoulders
• Excessive administration of Pitocin, leading to dangerous contractions and oxygen deprivation

Postpartum Negligence and Maternal Health Errors

Medical care doesn’t end after delivery. Postpartum monitoring is critical to ensure the mother recovers safely. When hospitals discharge mothers too soon or fail to diagnose serious postpartum conditions, the consequences can be deadly.

Some of the most common postpartum medical errors include:

• Failure to monitor for postpartum hemorrhage, which can cause excessive blood loss and death
• Anesthesia errors during or after C-section, leading to nerve damage or paralysis
• Postpartum infections due to hospital negligence, increasing the risk of sepsis
• Failure to diagnose postpartum preeclampsia, leading to stroke or organ failure

If medical professionals fail to provide proper postpartum care, families have the right to hold them accountable through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

 

Do You Have an Obstetric Malpractice Case?

Understanding the Legal Elements of Medical Negligence

Not every medical complication during pregnancy or childbirth is considered malpractice. However, when negligence directly results in injury or death, a lawsuit may be necessary to recover damages.

To prove obstetric malpractice, we must establish four key legal elements:

1. Doctor-Patient Relationship: The healthcare provider had a duty of care to the mother and baby.
2. Breach of the Standard of Care: The doctor or medical team failed to provide appropriate care, such as delaying an emergency procedure or mismanaging medications.
3. Direct Causation: The medical error directly caused injury to the mother or baby.
4. Damages: The injury resulted in financial, emotional, or physical harm, such as additional medical expenses, lost wages, or long-term disabilities.

Our legal team works with leading OB-GYN experts, neonatologists, and forensic specialists to prove medical negligence and fight for the compensation you deserve.

 

Compensation for Obstetric Malpractice Victims

What Financial Damages Can You Recover?

A successful medical malpractice lawsuit can help families recover compensation for:

1. Medical Expenses: Hospital bills, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and long-term care
2. Lost Wages & Future Earnings: Compensation for time away from work and lost earning potential
3. Pain & Suffering: Emotional distress, PTSD, and reduced quality of life
4. Wrongful Death Compensation: Funeral costs, loss of companionship, and financial support for surviving family members

At Matzus Law, LLC, we fight for maximum compensation to ensure our clients receive the financial support they need.

 

How to File an Obstetric Malpractice Lawsuit in Pennsylvania

Step 1: Schedule a Free Consultation
The first step in filing a claim is to schedule a free consultation with our legal team. We will review your medical records, hospital policies, and doctor’s notes to assess whether medical negligence occurred.

Step 2: Conduct a Medical Expert Review
We work with top medical experts to analyze the case and determine if the standard of care was violated. These experts provide critical testimony in proving your case.

Step 3: File the Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Once we establish evidence of negligence, we file a lawsuit against the responsible parties, including doctors, hospitals, or medical facilities. We handle all legal proceedings and negotiations to pursue the maximum compensation.

Step 4: Settlement Negotiations or Trial
Most medical malpractice cases settle out of court, but if a fair settlement is not offered, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial and fight for justice.

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.

 

Why Choose Matzus Law, LLC?

Matzus Law, LLC is a top-rated Pennsylvania medical malpractice firm with a proven track record in birth injury and maternal malpractice cases. We offer:

1. Decades of Experience handling complex obstetric malpractice lawsuits
2. Medical Expert Resources to build a strong case and prove medical negligence
3. Personalized Legal Support with one-on-one attention and compassionate advocacy
4. Aggressive Litigation to secure the highest compensation possible

We have successfully recovered millions for families impacted by medical negligence and are ready to fight for your rights.

Frequently Asked Questions About Obstetric Malpractice

What qualifies as obstetric malpractice?
Obstetric malpractice occurs when a medical professional, such as an OB-GYN, nurse, or midwife, fails to provide the appropriate standard of care during pregnancy, labor, or postpartum recovery. This negligence can include misdiagnosing maternal conditions, failing to monitor fetal distress, delaying necessary medical procedures, or making surgical errors during a C-section. If these mistakes lead to serious injuries or complications for the mother or baby, it may be considered malpractice.

How do I know if I have a valid obstetric malpractice case?
A valid obstetric malpractice case must prove that a healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused harm to the mother or child. This includes showing that the provider failed to follow the accepted medical standard of care, resulting in physical, emotional, or financial damages. If your injury or your child’s condition was preventable with proper medical care, you may have a case. Consulting a medical malpractice attorney who specializes in birth injury cases is the best way to determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit.

What are common injuries caused by obstetric malpractice
Obstetric malpractice can lead to a variety of serious injuries, including brain damage from lack of oxygen (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy), cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, nerve damage from improper forceps or vacuum use, maternal hemorrhaging, severe postpartum infections, and wrongful death. Injuries may affect either the mother, the baby, or both, and can have lifelong consequences requiring ongoing medical care.

Who can be held responsible for obstetric malpractice?
Obstetric malpractice claims can be filed against OB-GYNs, nurses, anesthesiologists, hospitals, birthing centers, and any other medical professionals responsible for providing maternal or neonatal care. Liability may depend on whether an individual doctor made a critical mistake or if a hospital’s policies and procedures contributed to the harm. In some cases, multiple parties may share responsibility.

How long do I have to file a malpractice lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims, which generally gives victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, in some cases, such as birth injury claims involving children, the deadline may be extended. It is crucial to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the legal timeframe.

 

Contact Matzus Law, LLC Today

If you or a loved one suffered due to obstetric malpractice, do not wait to take legal action. Pennsylvania law limits the timeframe for filing medical malpractice claims, and gathering evidence early is critical.

Contact Matzus Law, LLC today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania birth injury lawyer. Let us fight for your rights and help you secure the justice and compensation you deserve.