Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Errors Leading to Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
A heartbeat is a two-part pumping action that involves contractions in the heart. The first contraction occurs in the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) in response to an electrical signal from the sinoatrial node. As a result, the atria push blood into the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) in a process known as diastole. Then, the sinoatrial node signals the ventricles to contract in a process known as systole. While the valves between the atria and the ventricles close to prevent back flow, blood travels from the right ventricle to the lungs, where it collects oxygen. Blood containing oxygen travels from the left ventricle to the rest of the heart and other areas.
Each heartbeat lasts for about a second. The heart rate consists of the number of heartbeats per minute. During childbirth, medical professionals must monitor the heart rate of a fetus. This can provide signs of fetal distress to which they must respond. Failing to track the heartbeat and address any related problems can put a baby at risk of permanent disabilities or death.
Techniques for Monitoring Fetal Heart Rate
Sometimes a doctor will use a process called auscultation to check the fetal heart rate at certain intervals during childbirth. This involves listening to the heart rate with a stethoscope or similar equipment. To continuously monitor the fetal heart rate, meanwhile, a doctor can use electronic fetal heart rate monitoring. This may be conducted internally or externally.
Internal fetal heart rate monitoring involves placing a monitor on the scalp of the baby. A doctor may use this technique once the baby has traveled far enough into the birth canal for the scalp to be accessible. External fetal heart rate monitoring involves placing an electronic band around the stomach of the mother. This technique may be used when a baby has not advanced far into the birth canal. Data from internal or external monitoring will appear immediately on a screen, allowing medical staff to respond promptly to any emergency.
Potential Problems Involving Fetal Heart Rate
The normal heart rate for an adult at rest is 60-80 beats per minute, but heart rate increases with exertion. The normal fetal heart rate falls within a different range: 110-160 beats per minute. Abnormal heart rates can fall into one of three categories:
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat): a heart rate greater than 160 beats per minute
- Bradycardia (slow heartbeat): a heart rate less than 110 beats per minute
- Tachyarrhythmia (irregular heartbeat): a heart rate in which beats do not follow a normal rhythm
Problems with fetal heart rate usually indicate an underlying health issue, which a doctor must identify and treat before complications arise. Otherwise, a baby may develop serious conditions, such as cerebral palsy, nerve injuries, disorders associated with oxygen deprivation, paralysis, vision loss, or problems with cognitive functions.
Legal Claims Based on Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Errors
Failing to use proper procedures and equipment to track fetal heart rate during childbirth may have permanent consequences for a child and their family. A child may need many forms of treatment for conditions that could have been prevented, mitigated, or resolved if doctors had recognized a heart rate issue. Parents may find these costs challenging to bear on their own. They can bring a medical malpractice claim against any health care provider who was at fault.
Damages in medical malpractice cases usually account for the costs of treatment, such as therapies, medications, and surgeries. Parents also can recover compensation for future treatment that likely will be needed. A child may receive non-economic damages for the pain and suffering associated with a medical condition. To get these damages, parents must file a claim within the statute of limitations in their state. A court probably will dismiss their claim if it does not comply with this rule. Thus, parents should not hesitate to contact a birth injury attorney in their area if they suspect malpractice during childbirth.
