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Death from Childbirth: An Unfortunate Reality

Sometimes, death by childbirth is a direct result of medical malpractice. Here's what to do if you suspect foul play.

You are so glad that the child is safe but at the cost of his or her mother’s life. Was medical malpractice what took her away?

Death from childbirth is rare in the United States, but unfortunately, it is still a tragic reality for many families. As recently as 2015, the estimated maternal mortality rate was 26.4 per 100,000 live births.  A family gains a child, but you lose a sister, mother, wife, or daughter. Sometimes it is due to poor physical health of the mother, perhaps related to disease or other medical conditions. Some women choose to give birth naturally, and run into complications during birth that result in death. But other times, death from childbirth is a direct result of medical malpractice. Because these catastrophic mistakes happen, the offices of Cardaro & Peek are here to help you find out why they happened and what you can do about it.

What Could Have Happened?

Childbirth is a very complex process, and as any mother will tell you, it is one of extreme pain and discomfort. But when talking about childbirth, death is usually not on people’s mind. With modern technology, how do so many mothers die during childbirth? Medical errors, ineffective treatments, and lack of care coordination by clinicians and hospitals are major causes of preventable deaths. Maybe a doctor ignored previous medical records about the nature of the mother’s health or potential birth issues with the unborn child. A doctor also could have used faulty or incorrect equipment that could have caused trauma leading to death. Ultimately, a mother’s death in the hospital during childbirth often reflects a hospital’s inability to deal with rare or catastrophic complications.

How Can I Claim Wrongful Death from Childbirth?

According to a 2018 report, more than 60% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventable. If you suspect that your loved one died during childbirth as a result of medical malpractice, here are some factors to look for in your case:

  1. The mother must have died during the childbirth process or soon after;
  2. The death was unexpected or appears to be caused by a reckless decision or faulty procedure; and
  3. The beneficiaries (i.e. parents, spouse, children) suffered from traumatic psychological or financial loss as a result of her death. 

If your case lines up with these requirements, you may want to consider exploring a medical malpractice lawsuit.  If you speculate any possible wrongdoing by doctors, professional midwives, or nursing staff, contact Cardaro & Peek today for a free consultation. 

Contact The Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek, LLC Today


