As we mentioned last week on our Joliet medical malpractice law blog, inadequate medical care could quickly result in tragedy. When it comes to treating pregnant women and their unborn babies, inadequate medical care could result in permanent or fatal injuries, turning what should be one of the happiest moments of one’s life into one of the most devastating moments of one’s life.
A lawsuit that was recently filed in Illinois claims that hospital staff made mistakes when treating a pregnant patient that eventually led to the wrongful death of the patient’s baby. The child’s mother and father are now seeking compensation from the hospital for their pain, suffering and the tragic loss of their baby, which they claim the hospital could have prevented.
The lawsuit was filed against a hospital in Centreville, Illinois, on Nov. 20. The lawsuit states that on Nov. 22, 2010, the pregnant woman had gone to the hospital because she thought she was in labor. While at the hospital, staff administered a fetal non-stress test. Staff then determined that the woman was not in labor and the woman was sent home.
On Nov. 24, the woman gave birth to her baby. Sadly, the woman’s son had already died and he was delivered stillborn. The woman now believes that hospital staff could have prevented her son’s death.
The lawsuit argues that staff did not evaluate the fetal non-stress test correctly. The lawsuit also claims that staff failed to recognize that the woman was in labor when she went to the hospital on Nov. 22. Had staff monitored the woman instead of sending her home, they would have been able to perform a Cesarean section, possibly saving the baby’s life.
Losing a child as a result of medical malpractice is never easy to accept. With the help of an attorney, families may be able to obtain some justice for such a tragic loss.
Source: The Madison-St. Clair Record, “Touchette Hospital sued by parents over still birth,” Andrea Dearden, Dec. 28, 2012
- Our firm provides counsel to Illinois patients and their families who have been harmed by medical malpractice, including hospital negligence that resulted in a patient’s wrongful death. To learn more about our firm and practice, please visit our Will County birth injury attorneys page.
