Washington DC OBGYN Malpractice Lawyer
Any medical professional working as an OB/GYN has a responsibility not just to the pregnant woman they are directly caring for, but also to that woman’s unborn child. Unfortunately, because newborn infants and expecting mothers are both especially susceptible to serious harm from improper medical treatment, negligence by an OB/GYN can have especially serious consequences.
If you or your child suffered preventable harm because of misconduct of any kind by your obstetrician, you may want to speak with a Washington, DC OBGYN malpractice lawyer sooner rather than later. While you do have a right to seek financial compensation for the effects of a doctor’s reckless or careless mistreatment, pursuing meaningful restitution for harm caused by a negligent OBGYN can be extremely difficult without guidance from a malpractice attorney who has handled similar cases in the past.
Causes and Effects of OBGYN Malpractice
Everyone who works in a medical field is expected to meet a certain standard of care, the specifics of which vary depending on the role a particular professional fills, what kind of experience and expertise they have, and the conditions they are working under. For their party, OB/GYNs are expected to diligently monitor a pregnant woman’s health and that of her unborn baby from the earliest stages of her pregnancy all the way to the completion of natural or assisted childbirth.
An OB/GYN who fails to properly diagnose a baby’s genetic disorder or illness before they are born or fails to identify issues like ectopic pregnancy that could put both mother and child at risk of catastrophic harm may not have met the standard of care expected from someone in their position. Likewise, an OB/GYN who misuses forceps during delivery, does not perform a cesarean section in a timely manner when necessary, or does anything else reckless or careless that causes injury during childbirth could potentially be liable for ensuing losses.
Unfortunately, a single mistake or omission by someone with this crucial role may have permanent repercussions for a newborn child and/or their mother, including broken bones, internal bleeding, permanent paralysis or loss of function, and the development of conditions like cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy. A Washington, DC OBGYN malpractice attorney could review a particular set of circumstances to determine whether a negative medical outcome during pregnancy or childbirth could serve as grounds for civil litigation.
Effectively Recovering for Compensable Losses
Fortunately for prospective plaintiffs, the District of Columbia Code does not establish any caps on recovery for plaintiffs filing suit over medical malpractice. With that in mind, a qualified lawyer could help someone hurt by OBGYN malpractice in Washington, DC demand restitution for both economic and non-economic consequences of their injuries, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income for a mother while out of work recovering from injuries
- Physical pain and suffering for a mother and/or her child
- Lost future earning capacity, lost enjoyment of life, and other long-term repercussions of a birth injury sustained by a newborn
However, various special rules apply to cases like this that do not apply to other forms of personal injury litigation, making guidance from seasoned legal counsel especially crucial to effectively pursuing compensation. For example, D.C. Code §13-2802 requires injured plaintiffs to formally notify the healthcare provider(s) they plan to file suit against no less than 90 days before actually submitting their complaint.
Discuss Legal Options with a Washington, DC OBGYN Malpractice Attorney
Negligence by any doctor, nurse, or medical specialist can have serious consequences for that professional’s patients. When OB/GYNs engage in reckless or careless misconduct, though, their actions may have devastating implications for mothers, children, and entire families for years to come.
Recovering the compensation that you deserve in a situation like this could be much easier with support from a dedicated Washington, DC OBGYN malpractice lawyer. Call today for a consultation