OB/GYN Medical Malpractice
Most practitioners experience at least one medical malpractice lawsuit during their career. Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYN) and surgeons are the most commonly sued in the medical world. In fact, according to a Medscape study, 85% of OB/GYN specialists have been sued.
What is Medical Malpractice?
When a healthcare professional or medical establishment causes harm to a patient because of negligence, this is medical malpractice. One-third of lawsuits related to an OB/GYN practice is the result of an injury during care. Examples of medical malpractice include:
- Misreading results,
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose,
- Surgical error,
- Unnecessary surgery, and
- Improper follow-up.
Obstetric and Gynecology Medical Malpractice Issues
OB/GYNs are unique in the way that they can be responsible for handling two patients at once, as obstetrics is the care of a woman throughout her pregnancy. An OB/GYN should ensure that mom and baby are doing well, and follow up on anything that can pose a risk to either. When it comes to an expecting mother, medical malpractice in an OB/GYN office may result in the injury or death of a mother, her child, or both.
The success rate of pregnancy and birth has significantly improved within the last couple of centuries. This is due to tests and diagnostics that can prevent problems in mom or baby, and the development of prenatal care. Issues specific to Obstetrics include that may result in a malpractice lawsuit are:
- Failure to diagnose,
- Failure to identify a physical or genetic defect in the child,
- An unsuccessful cesarean section,
- Failure to recognize an ectopic pregnancy,
- Poor forceps use,
- Brain or organ damage due to a deprivation of oxygen (asphyxiation), and
- Failure to identify complications with the umbilical cord.
Not all forms of OB/GYN malpractice relate to pregnancy, however. Regular visits to an OB/GYN during a woman’s life is also considered preventive care, like visiting a primary care physician. The gynecologist side of OB/GYN deals with the health of a woman and her reproductive organs.
Just as men are at risk for testicular or prostate cancer, women are susceptible to reproductive cancers. Common cancers a woman may be tested for include ovarian, breast, cervical, endometrial, and uterine. Undiagnosed cancers and other gynecological issues can lead to infertility or even death. Another third of lawsuits against OB/GYNs are due to failure to treat and diagnose disorders or illnesses.
Get in Touch With an Aurora, IL Medical Malpractice Lawyer
No one deserves to suffer the consequences of a negligent doctor. The majority of settlements are reached before a trial. If you or your child is a victim of medical malpractice, contact a Kane County medical malpractice lawyer to increase your chances of receiving the compensation that you deserve. Call 630-907-0909 to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
https://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/malpractice-report-2015/obgyn#page=19
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/gynecological_health/statistics_gynecological_health_at_a_glance_85,P00587
