Emergency room malpractice leads to death of new mother
September 9th, 2017The first days following the birth of a child are both stressful and wonderful, especially after the birth of a first child. New parents from Louisiana and every other state across the nation understand the overwhelming feelings that come with being responsible for another life. No new parent should be taken from his or her child prematurely because of emergency room malpractice.
On August 26, 2013, a mother in another state died in the hospital barely one week after giving birth to her first child. She was brought into the emergency room several days after giving birth with symptoms of sepsis, the body’s severe response to an infection. These symptoms included a high fever, chills, nausea, as well as pain in her back and other areas.
The emergency room nurse chose to ignore test results that showed signs of sepsis, and instead diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection, although her urine samples showed no signs of any bacteria, and sent her home. Later that same day, the first-time mother collapsed and returned to the emergency room. This time doctors quickly diagnosed her with severe sepsis and, after administering antibiotics, performed a complete hysterectomy in an attempt to stop the infection. Unfortunately, their efforts were unsuccessful; the patient died two days later.
Small mistakes can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency room. It only takes one misread note or one ignored test result to change not only the lives of patients but their families as well. If Louisiana families believe that they are victims of emergency room malpractice or any kind of hospital negligence then they should consider consulting with a professional. A medical malpractice lawyer can help individuals and their families learn about the kind of compensation they might be entitled to and how best to proceed with a claim.
Source: startribune.com, “Twin Cities jury awards $20M in malpractice case for woman who died after giving birth“, Paul Walsh, Aug. 29, 2017