What Is the Doctor’s Responsibility to Ensure a Safe Pregnancy?

We go to doctors or midwives when our health depends on it and trust that they have a solution to help us get better. When a woman is pregnant, they rely on medical professionals to ensure that they have a safe pregnancy that does not have any complications.

Unfortunately, there are far too many instances in which doctors or midwives are negligent, failing to provide the proper care for both mother and baby. This can lead to a serious birth injury. For a mother, knowing the doctor’s or midwife’s responsibilities is crucial in order to ensure the safest pregnancy, labor and delivery.

During the Pregnancy

Expecting mothers are checked on often to ensure that the pregnancy is moving along healthily and that no dangerous conditions are present. As such, there is monitoring done by the doctor or midwife to check on blood pressure, heart rate, and other vitals.

When this is not done or something is not detected, otherwise easily correctible problems are missed. For example, missing a cardiac defect during the twenty week fetal ultrasound will remove the ability to have the delivery in a location where pediatric heart surgeons are on standby. Placental abnormalities are many times missed, which can result in serious bleeding complications during labor and delivery. Without proper monitoring, these conditions can go undetected and the baby may suffer severe injuries.

During Labor

Labor is a stressful time for both mother and baby. There are a lot of things to be aware of including how long the labor should last, whether vitals are normal, and if any medications are used. This is all normal and should be properly monitored to determine if interventions, including an emergency C-section, or other action, should be taken.

The doctor or midwife has the responsibility to check on the mother and baby often, recognizing any signs of an issue that may be present. They also must discuss options with the mother should a problem arise, such as the need for repositioning, oxygen, forceps or vacuum extractor, or if a C-section must be performed.

At The Beasley Firm, we know that the main responsibility of an obstetrician or midwife during a pregnancy is to ensure that both mother and baby are safe. If they’re not taking the steps to do so, it could lead to serious and long-term problems.

Our Philadelphia birth injury lawyers aim to represent families who have been impacted by the negative effects of doctor or midwife negligence. We have the experience, finances, and skills to build the strongest case with the necessary evidence and help you seek compensation and justice.

Call on our firm today to speak with an attorney about your rights.