Why Women Are Still Dying in Childbirth
December 10th, 2018By Zach Christiansen of The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation on Monday, December 10, 2018.
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana. Giving birth can be a dangerous act for women and for their babies. There’s always a risk with any pregnancy, but in recent months, we have been seeing more reports that the U.S. has the highest rate of maternal deaths in the developed world. According to the New York Times, many states continue to fail to properly investigate what is leading to these deaths. In fact, some states continue to cite mothers’ behavior as the reason for their deaths or for their children’s birth injuries.
If you have been injured in childbirth, if your baby was injured in childbirth, or if someone you loved died during childbirth, it is important to take steps to understand what went wrong. Mothers and families cannot always rely on doctors or hospitals to be entirely forthcoming. The The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm are medical malpractice and birth injury lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana who work closely with families who have suffered due to the negligence of medical personnel. If you believe a doctor or hospital’s actions led to your injuries or to the injuries of your child, including asphyxia, cerebral palsy, paralysis, or brain damage, consider reaching out to the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm today.
According to the Times, while the global rates of maternal death rates are dropping, American women’s rates of death during pregnancy and childbirth are getting worse. Many maternal deaths are highly preventable. Preeclampsia and maternal hemorrhaging deaths can be prevented with early detection. Unfortunately, the Times reports that while these conditions can lead to injury and death of the mother, they remain rare. Doctors may simply not be receiving the training they need to prevent maternal death rates.
Other women suffer life-altering injuries during the birthing process. According to Cosmopolitan damage or weakening of the pelvic floor muscles can lead to incontinence, or tearing. Surgical decisions during vaginal birth can also lead to damage to the vagina and loss of sensation. And then there are the injuries that children can suffer during childbirth. The Merck Manual lists bleeding around the brain due to trauma, facial nerve injuries due to improper use of forceps, brachial plexus injuries due to improper delivery, and spinal cord injury. Other infants can suffer from oxygen deprivation due to placental abruption, maternal hemorrhage, or due to an untreated infection.
If you or a loved one has suffered a birth injury, you might be suffering immensely. The loss can be traumatizing and devastating. Many women are afraid to speak up about their personal injuries during childbirth because of embarrassment. Others may struggle to pay for medical care for their injuries or for their children’s injuries. If you have suffered a birth injury, reach out to the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, birth injury lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana today. Our attorneys may be able to help you seek the damages you may deserve under the law.
The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm, A Professional Law Corporation
1615 Poydras Street, Suite 1050
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112
Phone: (504) 586-5200
Toll Free: (504) 586-5200
