Maternity Medical Malpractice in Georgia – All You Need to Know

Pregnancy is an exciting time for many mothers-to-be across Georgia. Families can experience hope and anticipation as they await the arrival of their new child. From the busy streets of Atlanta to the rural areas in the south of the state, mothers deserve adequate and exceptional care from their medical practitioners. When tragedy occurs through these professionals’ negligence, cases of maternity medical malpractice in Georgia can result.

For many pregnant women, infections are a serious possibility. Pregnant bodies are more susceptible to pathogens as a result of a partially suppressed immune system. Healthcare providers are held to a standard of care. They must make sure their patients are screened, diagnosed, and treated to keep possible maternal infections and other similar conditions from harming them or the baby. When these providers act negligently, you can file a claim for medical malpractice.

Possible Maternal Infections Caused by Malpractice

When a mother suffers an undiagnosed and/or untreated infection while pregnant, this can lead to birth defects for the baby, birthing injuries for both the mother and the baby, and other lifelong complications that can affect both parties. The most common maternal infections that can result from medical malpractice, thus causing further issues for both the mother and the baby, include the following:

Vaginitis

This infection can occur when the vagina becomes infected or inflamed due to a fungus, bacteria, or virus. When left untreated, bacterial vaginosis, which is an otherwise common and treatable infection, can create birthing complications for pregnant mothers. When a woman has untreated vaginitis, this can cause the baby to be born early and/or have low birth weight. The mother may also become more susceptible to other infections.

Candidiasis

When pregnant, most women will experience an increase in estrogen. This increase can cause women to be more likely to develop a yeast infection. Though they are rarely dangerous to the mother, a yeast infection can impact a premature baby, causing heart and respiratory issues.

Urinary Tract Infections

During pregnancy, hormones in the urinary tract can change and make women more prone to UTIs. These infections can become dangerous when they lead to an infection or swelling of the kidneys. They can also cause sepsis in the baby or result in premature labor.

Toxoplasmosis

This is a parasitic infection that is typically contracted due to uncooked meat or contaminated fluids. This can be deadly and cause serious birth defects in the brain, eyes, lungs, and heart of the baby. The baby may also suffer from learning disabilities, seizures, and delays in their cognitive development.

Cytomegalovirus

This is a common enough virus that many adults can deal with it. It usually does not present an actual problem unless the infected adult is pregnant. When this infection is left untreated thanks to negligent healthcare providers, it can cause jaundice in the baby, seizures, and pneumonia.

Syphilis

Though a common and treatable disease by itself, when an individual is pregnant, babies born with syphilis can be underweight or born prematurely. They may have brain damage, experience deformities, or suffer from blindness or deafness. Your doctor should test you for syphilis right away if it is suspected. When they don’t, this can result in serious issues for both you and the baby.

Hepatitis

There are several forms of this infection. Hepatitis A can be spread through contaminated food and attack the liver. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through blood or other bodily fluids. When doctors fail to test for these infections or offer vaccines to prevent them, the mother could experience cancer or scarring of the liver.

Listeriosis

Pregnant women have a higher likelihood of getting listeriosis through contaminated food. When this infection does not get treated by a healthcare provider, pregnant women can suffer stillbirth, a miscarriage, or premature labor, and the baby can become sick with a life-threatening infection.

Group B Streptococcus

A large percentage of women carry Group B streptococcus, or GBS. Doctors are supposed to test every woman for this infection near the end of pregnancy, as it can be transmitted to the baby during delivery. When this infection is not caught and treated, it can cause sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and birth defects in the baby, like visual or hearing issues.

FAQs

Q: What Are the Common Hospitals in Georgia Where Maternal Malpractice Takes Place?

A: Georgia boasts hundreds of hospitals across the state. Unfortunately, none of these medical establishments are immune from acts of maternal medical malpractice. From Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, to Southern Regional Medical Center in Clayton County, maternal medical malpractice cases are all too common. These can include a delayed C-section, anesthesia errors, or missed infections.

Q: What Is Negligence in Maternal Health?

A: In matters of maternal health, medical negligence or malpractice can occur when a doctor or other healthcare professional fails to provide the standard duty of care to the mother and baby during the pregnancy, labor, or postpartum period, which can result in harm to both the mother and the baby. This can include missed or inadequate maternal monitoring, improper or missed intervention, and delayed responses to birthing complications.

Q: What Are the Most Common Birth Injuries in Georgia?

A: There are several common birth injuries suffered by babies in Georgia, many of which can be traced back to negligence in maternal care. These injuries include:

• Brain damage
• Hearing or vision loss
• Fractures
• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Developmental delays for the baby
• Jaundice
• Underdeveloped brains, arms, and legs
• Heart failure

Q: What Forms of Compensation Can I Receive as a Mother?

A: If you suffer maternal medical malpractice at a hospital in Georgia, or this malpractice takes the life of your loved one, you can seek compensation. Forms of compensation can include all medical bills related to the incident of malpractice, along with the pain, suffering, and emotional distress suffered by yourself and your loved ones.

Justice for Mothers: Contact The Tolson Firm, LLC, Today

When you suffer an infection or other health issues while pregnant, and your healthcare provider does not adequately treat or test for this infection, this can lead to maternal issues for the mother and birthing issues for the baby. The proud Black attorneys at The Tolson Firm, LLC, can hold the negligent doctors and providers liable for their inaction. Contact us today, and let our team secure you the compensation you and your baby deserve.