The birth of every child is special and unique. For most parents, the labor and delivery of a child culminates with the happy arrival of a healthy baby. However, in cases where complications occur during a baby’s delivery, a very different and tragic scenario may play out.
After a normal and healthy pregnancy, a petite expectant mother was anxious about the impending birth of her baby. Just shy of 5 feet tall and only weighing 95 pounds prior to becoming pregnant, the woman feared her baby was too large to safely deliver via a vaginal delivery. Despite the expectant mother’s concerns and requests for a caesarian section, her doctor assured her that a vaginal delivery was possible and safe.
After 18 hours of labor, the baby remained stuck in the woman’s birth canal. The woman again requested that a C-section be performed, but the doctor insisted a vaginal delivery was preferable. When both mother and baby began to show signs of stress, the doctor made the decision to use an instrument known as a forceps to aid in the baby’s delivery.
While attempting to use the forceps to grasp the baby’s head and pull the child down the birth canal, a terrible birth injury occurred. The baby’s skull was fractured and her spine severed. The baby’s parents witnessed the terrible injury and an emergency C-section was performed. The baby was delivered alive and transported to another emergency hospital. She died five days later.
The grieving parents have filed a medical malpractice lawsuit and publicly called for an end to the use of forceps during deliveries. This case is tragic in every sense and proves the devastating injuries that can result when an obstetrician makes mistakes. In this case, the doctor’s errors in both judgment and practice resulted in an otherwise healthy baby’s death.
Illinois parents who have questions or concerns related to a child’s health would be wise to consult with an attorney. In cases where a child has physical or mental deficiencies that were present since birth, it’s possible that mistakes were made during the child’s delivery.
Source: Liberty Voice, “Death by Forceps: Malpractice Allegations in Southeast Texas Baby’s Death,” Matt Darjany, Jan. 3, 2014
