Pregnancy should be a time of careful monitoring, support, and clear communication between a patient and their healthcare team. When medical professionals fail to meet the accepted standard of care, the consequences can be serious for both the mother and the baby. Errors in prenatal care or delivery can lead to preventable injuries, emotional trauma, and long-term health problems.
If you believe you or your baby were harmed due to pregnancy negligence in Ohio, The Becker Law Firm can help. Our Cleveland attorneys have extensive experience handling medical negligence and birth injury cases and we understand the emotional and financial toll these situations can create. We can review your medical records, help you understand your legal options, and guide you through each step with compassionate support and clear explanations.
What Is Pregnancy Negligence?
Negligence during pregnancy is a form of medical malpractice that occurs when a medical professional fails to provide care that meets the standard expected of a reasonably competent provider under similar circumstances. This can include errors in diagnosis, delayed treatment, failure to recognize warning signs, or mistakes during delivery.
Common Forms of Negligence During Pregnancy
Medical negligence during pregnancy can take many forms. Some of the most common examples include:
- Failure to diagnose or treat preeclampsia: Delayed recognition of high blood pressure and related complications can put both mother and baby at risk.
- Improper management of gestational diabetes: Poor monitoring or incorrect treatment can cause dangerous blood sugar fluctuations and complications during delivery.
- Delayed or missed diagnosis of fetal distress: If signs of fetal distress are ignored, the baby may suffer oxygen deprivation or other injuries.
- Failure to monitor fetal development properly: Inadequate ultrasounds, missed growth concerns, or failure to detect abnormalities can lead to preventable harm.
- Medication errors or improper dosing: Giving the wrong medication or incorrect dosage during pregnancy can cause serious harm.
- Failure to recommend timely delivery or C-section when necessary: Delayed intervention in high-risk situations can increase the chance of injury.
These situations can lead to serious complications that could have been avoided with proper medical care.
Potential Injuries to the Mother and Child
Erroneous medical care during pregnancy can result in injuries to both the mother and the child. Some potential injuries include:
- Maternal hemorrhage or complications during delivery
- Infection or sepsis
- Organ damage or severe complications from untreated conditions
- Premature birth and associated complications
- Oxygen deprivation or birth injuries to the baby
- Cerebral palsy or other long-term disabilities
- Developmental delays or lifelong medical needs
These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, therapy, and ongoing care, which can create long-term financial and emotional burdens for families.
How Pregnancy Negligence Claims Are Investigated
A medical malpractice claim is typically investigated through a careful review of medical records, treatment timelines, and expert medical opinions. The process often includes:
- Gathering prenatal and delivery records
- Reviewing diagnostic tests, imaging, and lab results
- Consulting medical experts to evaluate whether the standard of care was met
- Determining whether negligence caused the injury
- Calculating the full impact of the injury, including future care needs
A strong claim depends on clear documentation and expert analysis. The Becker Law Firm works with experienced medical professionals to review your case and determine whether negligence occurred.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Medical Negligence?
Several types of healthcare providers may be held legally responsible for negligent care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. In Ohio, those who may be held liable include:
- Obstetricians (OB-GYNs): Typically oversee prenatal care and delivery. They may be responsible for missed diagnoses, delayed C-sections, or medication errors.
- Family doctors and specialists: Physicians providing prenatal checkups who fail to recognize complications such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.
- Midwives and nurse midwives: Can be liable if they fail to monitor the mother or baby adequately, delay referrals to physicians, or attempt to manage emergencies beyond their scope of practice.
- Labor and delivery nurses: Responsible for tracking vital signs, monitoring fetal heart rates, and promptly alerting physicians to warning signs.
- Hospitals and birthing centers: May share liability for inadequate staffing, poor communication between departments, or unsafe policies that delay emergency interventions.
- Pharmacists or anesthesiologists: Can face responsibility for improper medication dosing or anesthesia errors during labor.
Who Can File a Pregnancy Negligence Claim in Ohio?
In Ohio, pregnancy-related negligence claims may be filed by:
- The mother who suffered injury due to negligent prenatal or delivery care
- The legal guardian or representative of a child who suffered injury due to negligence
- Families seeking compensation for injuries resulting from medical negligence
The ability to file a claim depends on the specific circumstances of the case and the timing of the injury.
Compensation Available Through Pregnancy Negligence Claims
If medical negligence is proven, victims may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses, past and future
- Hospital bills, therapy, and rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Long-term care and support needs
Compensation can help families cover the costs of ongoing medical care and support needed after a serious pregnancy injury. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to give you an estimate as to the amount of compensation potentially available for you and your family, but there are no guarantees until your case is officially settled.
Ohio Statute of Limitations & The "Discovery Rule"
Ohio has strict deadlines for filing medical negligence claims, known as the statute of limitations. In many cases, the deadline is two years from the date the injury occurred. However, some cases may be eligible for the "discovery rule," which can extend the deadline if the injury was not immediately apparent.
Because these deadlines can be complex and vary depending on the situation, it is important to speak with an attorney early. Delays can permanently limit your ability to pursue a claim.
Steps to Take if You Suspect Pregnancy Negligence
If you believe medical provider’s negligence caused harm, it is important to take action quickly:
- Seek medical care for you and your baby to document injuries.
- Save all medical records, bills, and discharge paperwork.
- Keep detailed notes of symptoms, complications, and treatment timelines.
- Avoid discussing your case with insurance companies without legal guidance.
- Contact The Becker Law Firm to review your case and protect your rights.
The Becker Law Firm can help you understand your options and build a strong claim that reflects the full impact of the injury on your family.
How Our Cleveland Legal Team Can Help
For more than 40 years, The Becker Law Firm has been recognized throughout Ohio for its results in birth injury and medical malpractice litigation. Our attorneys have recovered millions for families impacted by negligent prenatal care, including one case where a delay in diagnosing placental abruption resulted in a multimillion-dollar recovery for the child’s lifelong care needs.
We approach every case with the same level of dedication, by listening carefully, explaining each step, and fighting to secure the justice your family deserves.
Contact us today at 216-480-4620 for a free consultation. Our Cleveland attorneys will answer your questions, review your records, and help you understand whether you have grounds for a claim.
