Settlement For $457,000 After Physician Does Not Administer Antibiotics For Group B Strep And Newbor

Settlement For $457,000 After Physician Does Not Administer Antibiotics For Group B Strep And Newbor

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If a infant acquires an infection caused by the Group B Strep bacteria there is a very serious risk to the baby's condition that results. It can also result in the death of the infant. Babies who live may develop life-long disabilities particularly cerebral palsy. The infection can abruptly develop into pneumonia, sepsis (an infection that advances throughout the body), and meningitis. Because of the dangers a group b strep infection poses to babies doctors normally concur that it is vital to minimize the danger that the infection will be transmitted to the baby from a mother who carries, or has any of the risk factors, for the bacteria.

There are thus a number of circumstances which doctors take into account when figuring out whether there is an increased risk that the woman will transmit the bacteria to her baby. The mothers medical history includes the detection of the GBS bacteria during a prior pregnancy. The second is when the woman tests positive from a GBS screening during weeks 35 and 37 of the pregnancy. Among the factors that places a pregnant woman at risk for group b streptococcus is when her membranes rupture in excess of 18 hours prior to labor. If the infant does suffer an injury (such as blindness, a brain injury, or a seizure disorder) due to the failure by a physician to provide antibiotics under any of the conditions above or any others contained in the guidelines, there may be medical malpractice liability.

Consider the report of a case involving a nineteen year old female who, prior to reaching full term, was admitted to a hospital to give birth to her child. The expectant mother had suffered a membrane rupture at least eighteen hours ahead of entering labor. Her doctor knew this. Still irrespective of this put the expectant mother at risk of a Group B Strep infection the doctor did not give antibiotics for Group B Strep. Upon birth her baby was depressed and required resuscitation. The medical staff at the hospital ultimately recognized that this was on account of a group b streptococcus infection. Even with attempts at treatment by the hospital staff the newborn passed away 2 days after delivery due to complications from the infection. The law firm that took this matter on for the babys mother reported that the case was tried and a jury awarded the mother $457,000.

This claim illustrates that a group b streptococcus infection might be fatal in a baby. The need for antibiotics in cases where the expectant mother has any of the risk factors is thus generally stressed by doctors. Not administering antibiotics during labor in a matter where there is a possibility that the mother might transmit the Group B Strep bacteria to her newborn might amount to medical negligence.

About the Author:
Joseph Hernandez is an Attorney accepting birth injury medical malpractice cases. You can learn more about group b strep and other birth injury matters including erbs palsy injry matters by checking the website.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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