Maternal Infection Lawyer

As an expecting parent, you place your complete trust in your medical team to protect both your health and the health of your baby. When that trust is broken and a treatable maternal infection leads to a devastating, lifelong birth injury, the sense of betrayal is profound. You deserve answers and justice.

As an expecting parent, you may find it necessary to consult a maternal infection lawyer to understand your rights and options.

Consulting a maternal infection lawyer can help uncover whether medical negligence contributed to your situation.

Our maternal infection lawyers are committed to achieving justice for affected families.

Many maternal infections that are harmless to the mother can be catastrophic if passed to a baby during pregnancy or delivery. There are clear medical standards of care in place to prevent this transmission. When doctors or hospitals fail to follow these standards, they can be held legally responsible for the harm that results. A maternal infection lawyer specializes in proving this negligence.

At CP Family Help, we have the expertise to investigate these complex cases. We understand how a simple failure to screen for or treat an infection can lead to conditions like Cerebral Palsy, and we are dedicated to fighting for the families affected by this preventable medical malpractice.

How a Mother’s Infection Can Lead to a Devastating Birth Injury

When harmful bacteria or viruses cross the placenta or infect a baby during passage through the birth canal, the baby’s immature immune system can be overwhelmed. This can lead to:

• Sepsis: A life-threatening, body-wide infection.
• Meningitis: An infection and inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain itself.

This severe inflammation and infection can destroy brain tissue or cause a stroke, leading to permanent brain damage. This damage often results in a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, developmental delays, or hearing and vision loss. A maternal infection lawyer works to prove the link between a doctor’s negligence and this tragic outcome.

A maternal infection lawyer can help establish the negligence that led to such tragic outcomes.

3 Maternal Infection Cases a Lawyer Can Win

In such cases, a maternal infection lawyer can provide invaluable assistance.

A maternal infection lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of these legal cases.

While many infections can pose a threat, some are at the center of birth injury lawsuits more often than others because the standards of care are so clear. Here are three examples of cases a lawyer can win.

1. Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

• What It Is: GBS is a common bacteria carried by about 25% of healthy pregnant women. It is usually harmless to the mother.
• The Standard of Care: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has a clear and simple standard: all pregnant women should be screened for GBS between 36 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. If the test is positive, the mother must receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor to prevent transmission to the baby.
• How Negligence Occurs: A strong legal case can be built on a doctor’s failure to follow this simple protocol. Negligence includes:
  • Failing to perform the GBS screening test at all.
  • Failing to properly record or act on a positive test result.
  • Delaying the administration of IV antibiotics during labor, providing too low a dose, or not providing them for a long enough time before delivery.
• The Devastating Outcome: An untreated baby can develop early-onset GBS disease, leading to sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis, which is a frequent cause of permanent brain damage.

2. Chorioamnionitis

• What It Is: An infection of the amniotic fluid and fetal membranes, often caused by bacteria (like E. coli) traveling up from the vagina into the uterus.
• The Standard of Care: Competent doctors and nurses must monitor for the signs of chorioamnionitis during labor, which include maternal fever, uterine tenderness, foul-smelling amniotic fluid, and an elevated heart rate in both mother and baby (tachycardia).
• How Negligence Occurs: Malpractice occurs when the medical team ignores these red flags. A maternal infection lawyer can win a case by proving the team:
  • Failed to recognize the clear signs and symptoms of an infection.
  • Delayed treatment with broad-spectrum IV antibiotics.
  • Failed to expedite the delivery, often via an emergency C-section, to get the baby out of the toxic environment.
• The Devastating Outcome: The widespread inflammation can cause brain cells to die, leading to periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a primary cause of Cerebral Palsy. The infection can also cause fetal distress and oxygen deprivation, leading to HIE.

3. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

• What It Is: A common virus that can cause genital sores. If a mother has an active outbreak during delivery, the virus can be transmitted to the baby.
• The Standard of Care: If a mother has a known history of genital herpes, doctors should offer suppressive antiviral medication in the weeks leading up to her due date to prevent an outbreak. Most importantly, if there are any active lesions or symptoms of an outbreak at the time of labor, a vaginal delivery is strictly contraindicated. The standard of care demands that a C-section be performed.
• How Negligence Occurs: A clear case of malpractice exists if a doctor knew about the mother’s history of HSV and active lesions but proceeded with a vaginal delivery anyway.
• The Devastating Outcome: Neonatal herpes is a catastrophic illness. It attacks the baby’s central nervous system and organs and has a very high mortality rate. Survivors are often left with severe, permanent brain damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We understand you have many questions about this difficult topic. Here are some answers to common concerns.

Speak With an Experienced Maternal Infection Lawyer Today

This is where a maternal infection lawyer becomes crucial in holding negligent parties accountable.

Learning that your child’s lifelong disability could have been prevented by a simple test or a timely dose of antibiotics is a heavy burden to bear. You deserve accountability.

Consulting a maternal infection lawyer can clarify your legal standing and options.

The legal team at CP Family Help has the experience and compassion to handle these sensitive and complex cases. We are here to listen to your story, investigate what happened, and fight for the justice your child deserves. Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation.

If you suspect negligence, a maternal infection lawyer will evaluate your case thoroughly.

They can also help prepare your case against those responsible, ensuring that a maternal infection lawyer is by your side.

With their expertise, a maternal infection lawyer will advocate strongly for your rights.

Contacting a maternal infection lawyer should be your first step toward seeking justice.