According to a recent article published in the March 18, 2019 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer,  severe childbirth complications rates are increasing both nationwide and in Pennsylvania, leading to an increase in the number of women dying during or shortly after childbirth.  

 

At the Law Office of Alvin F. de Levie & Associates, our team of experienced personal injury attorneys has a history of representing victims who have suffered serious injuries as a result of medical negligence throughout the Commonwealth. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of medical negligence during child birth, please call us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (844) 777-2529.   We practice throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania and, with offices in State College, Bellefonte, Lock Haven and Philadelphia, we are always available to meet with you in person.

 

The Inquirer article noted that while the national median rate for severe complications was 1.4 percent, many Philadelphia area hospitals, including Temple University Hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Hahnemann University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Doylestown Hospital, and Crozer Chester Medical Center are reporting severe childbirth complication rates well over the median. The complication rates for these hospitals range from 1.7% at Temple University Hospital to 3.3%at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

 

According to the article, one of the main contributors to the increase in childbirth complication rates was substandard medical care. For example, the article noted some hospitals were not following nationally recommended protocols, such as:

 

-        immediately prescribing medication to decrease dangerously high blood pressure levels during labor; and

-        automatically treating women who have lost more than 500 cubic centimeters of blood during delivery as if they were hemorrhaging by providing blood transfusions. These transfusions keep blood pressure levels from reaching dangerously low levels.

 

Failing to monitor and immediately respond to child birth complications can cause numerous serious injuries to women during labor, including:

 

• Injuries Caused by Changes in Blood Pressure: Failure to properly monitor and treat increases and decreases in blood pressure can lead to organ damage, shock, loss of vision, cardiac arrest and even death.

• Placenta Abruption: This injury occurs when the placenta tears from the uterus before delivery and is often accompanied by rapid    contractions and serious abdominal and back pain. A medical provider’s failure to monitor and recognize the signs of a placental abruption can lead to large amounts of blood loss and dangerous drops in blood pressure.

• Post-Partum Hemorrhage: While a certain amount of blood loss is completely natural during child birth, a failure to properly monitor and treat extensive blood loss after birth can lead to numerous complications, including organ failure and death.

•  Tissue Tears: Small tears in tissue are a normal occurrence during child birth. However, failure to properly monitor the child’s position during labor and delivery and other complications can cause serious tears that require extensive surgery to correct.  

 

Again, if you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury as a result of medical negligence during child birth, please call us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (844) 777-2529.   We practice throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania and, with offices in State College, Bellefonte, Lock Haven and Philadelphia, we are always available to meet with you in person.