During birth, primary focus is on the newborn – but what about his/her mother? Negligent hospital policies and protocols can lead to the death of mothers who should otherwise be treated for minor complications.
According to a combined report of the Maternal Mortality Review committees including the committee in Delaware, the leading causes of pregnancy-related maternal death are: Hemorrhage, Cardiovascular and Coronary conditions, Cardiomyopathy, Infection, Embolism, Mental Health conditions, Preeclampsia and Eclampsia.
The committee determined that 58.9% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable. And yet they occur due to reasons like: misdiagnosis, delays in diagnosis, ineffective treatment, failure to request a specialist consultation; inadequate training, absence of hospital policies and procedures, and lack of coordination and communication between medical providers.
Pregnancy related maternal death rates are highest in the United States than in any other developed country. There are varying opinions on the cause of the high maternal death rate. One possible reason is that during birth, the primary focus is on the health of the infant; not the mother. In the hospital setting, the mother and the infant are both patients and both should receive diligent medical treatment and attention.
Medical providers and hospitals may be held responsible for medical negligence that causes wrongful death or serious injury to pregnant mothers. Schedule a free consultation with our Wilmington-based legal team at Murphy & Landon by calling 302-472-8100 or sending us an email. For more information on medical malpractice lawsuits, click here.
