Mothers’ injuries and wrongful death during birth rising in U.S.

Missourians who are preparing for the birth of a child will generally expect that the United States is the place to be to have a safe delivery, and they will not need to worry about injury or death to the child or mother. Since the U.S. is viewed as having state of the art medicine, this is an understandable belief. However, troubling research by USA Today says that among developed nations in the world, the U.S. is the riskiest nation to have a baby. This should be a concern to everyone, and those who have had a baby and experienced complications that caused injury or death should be aware of their right to seek compensation in a legal filing.

The report says that an estimated 50,000 mothers are seriously injured and 700 die after giving birth. More worrisome is that the numbers seem to be getting worse. From 1990 to 2015, there was an increase in maternal fatalities per 100,000 births from 18 to slightly more than 26. The numbers in other developed nations Canada, England and Germany are fewer than 10 for every 100,000. In those countries, the numbers are even improving.

A common denominator in the injuries and fatalities is the failure on the part of medical professionals to adhere to safety procedures. The main reasons for the deaths are hypertension and hemorrhaging. Medical professionals are expected to keep track of the blood pressure and monitor blood loss. They often fail to do so or do not use precise measurements when checking. This can lead to the damage and death.

Given the perception that a woman having a baby is routine, it obscures the dangerous nature of any medical procedure. Mothers giving birth must be monitored and cared for just as any other patient. The failure to do so is believed to be resulting in the injuries and deaths. When there is a medical mistake, a worsened medical condition or failure to adhere to proper protocol and the mother or baby is injured or dies, it is imperative to have legal assistance to investigate the case and take the necessary steps to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This legal action could help old a medical professional accountable and assist with the recovery of compensation for losses suffered.