Fetal distress is a blanket term used by medical professionals to describe a number of different birth complications, such as hypoxia, prolonged labor, diabetes in the mother or shoulder dystocia (which occurs when the infant’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvis). It is characterized by a change in the fetus’s heart rate, and usually occurs during delivery. Fetal distress can result in low oxygen resulting in brain damage, organ failure, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or death.

Early signs of fetal distress require immediate action by medical professionals

Medical professionals are trained to identify signs of fetal distress early on, and to treat quickly. The earlier the condition is identified and treatment is administered, the less likely brain damage resulting from a birth injury is likely to occur. Sometimes, heading off serious complications requires doctors and staff to induce quick labor, either with an emergency C-section or with rapid instrument delivery.

In order to identify fetal distress in time to administer effective treatment, hospital staff and doctors need to monitor mothers and their fetuses extremely closely. They must act immediately upon any indication of fetal distress. Otherwise, birth injuries resulting in permanent damage can occur.

Parents can sue for birth injury resulting from medical malpractice

Unfortunately, not all hospital staff are able to respond in time to ward off permanent injury to the child. In these cases, parents may consider consulting with birth injury attorneys to explore their options in medical malpractice litigation. The attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch have more than forty years of experience representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases. Call our offices today for a free consultation about your case, and find out how we can help you achieve the justice you deserve.