Failure to Detect Fetal Distress Causing Injury in Texas
Fetal distress occurs when a baby does not receive enough oxygen or faces complications during pregnancy or labor. Failure to detect these warning signs can lead to serious, lifelong injuries. Medical professionals, including obstetricians, nurses, and labor staff, have a duty to monitor the fetus and act immediately when signs of distress appear.
At Aldous Law, our Dallas fetal distress attorneys represent families across Texas, helping parents hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for preventable birth injuries. If your child suffered due to undetected fetal distress, we offer free case reviews to evaluate your legal options.
Common Failures Leading to Fetal Distress Injuries
When fetal distress is not addressed promptly, preventable injuries can occur. Doctors or nurses may fail to:
- Monitoring the heart rate of the baby
- Checking for uterine contractions
- Reading fetal monitors correctly
- Maintaining the fetal monitoring equipment
- Taking action if distress is detected
Even brief delays or errors in responding to fetal distress can result in permanent brain injury, cerebral palsy, or other developmental conditions.
Signs of Fetal Distress
Because it is so important to monitor the mother and the fetus throughout the pregnancy, it is important to recognize the signs of possible fetal distress. Fetal distress may be a result of certain precursors such as:
- Pregnancy induced hypertension
- Meconium-stained amniotic fluid
- Oligohydramnios
- Intrauterine growth retardation
- Post-term pregnancies
- Anemia
Early recognition allows providers to intervene, sometimes through intrauterine resuscitation, hydration, maternal repositioning, or emergency cesarean delivery.
Treatment Options for Fetal Distress
Doctors often attempt to manage fetal distress without surgery through methods such as intrauterine resuscitation, maternal repositioning, hydration, and oxygen supplementation. If these interventions are unsuccessful, an emergency cesarean delivery is usually required. Delays or errors in these procedures may constitute medical negligence and are actionable under Texas law.
Fetal Distress and Brain Damage
When a doctor detects fetal distress and does not act quickly to alleviate the situation, the fetus may lose enough oxygen to suffer brain damage. This is an act of negligence on behalf of the doctors and/or nurses. It is important for medical professionals to make sure their monitoring of the fetus is done accurately and correctly.
If your baby suffered a serious condition due to the failure to detect fetal distress, you may have a claim against the medical professional. The lawyers at Aldous Law are dedicated to making sure the families we represent have the strong advocacy they need to seek compensation after a serious birth injury.
Call our firm today at (214) 526-5595 to get started.
What is fetal distress?
Fetal distress occurs when a baby experiences complications during pregnancy or labor, such as insufficient oxygen or abnormal heart patterns, that threaten its health or development.
Can I file a lawsuit if my child suffered brain damage due to fetal distress?
Yes. If a medical professional failed to detect or respond to fetal distress, you may have a claim for compensation. Our attorneys provide free evaluations to determine if you have a viable case.
What signs indicate fetal distress?
Abnormal fetal heart rates, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, low amniotic fluid, growth restrictions, post-term pregnancy, and maternal complications such as high blood pressure or anemia are common warning signs.
How do Texas fetal distress lawyers help families?
We investigate medical records, consult with experts, and pursue claims to secure compensation for medical care, therapy, special education, and lifelong support.
Can families outside Dallas contact your firm?
Yes. Our Texas fetal distress attorneys represent families statewide, including Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth.
