Failure to Monitor Fetal Heartbeat

Nashville Birth Injury Lawyers with 150+ Years of Experience

When going through the pain of labor and childbirth, mothers have enough to worry about. It is the responsibility of their doctors and nurses to make sure they are paying attention to the equipment designed to monitor the status and health of the child, both before and during birth.

The state-of-the-art fetal monitoring equipment now in place in most hospitals should eliminate most instances of serious birth injury or wrongful death. However, doctors and nurses fail to pay attention to this monitoring equipment on occasion, greatly increasing the risk to the children.

Did your child suffer fetal distress as a result of medical negligence? If so, we encourage you to call Kinnard Law for a free consultation: (615) 933-2893.

What Can Happen When a Doctor Fails to Monitor Fetal Heartbeat?

An obstetrician or physician does not have one patient but two when examining a pregnant woman. Doctors are responsible for providing comprehensive care for both mother and child, so it is important for them to monitor the vital signs, especially the heart rate, of both patients. If they fail to monitor a baby’s heart rate, they put both patients at risk.

Common results of failing to monitor fetal heartbeat include:

• Neurological Injury – The heart pumps blood throughout the body, which carries oxygen. If the brain does not receive the appropriate amount of oxygen, the baby may sustain brain injuries. This can affect the way they process information, their motor skills, and potentially their life.
• Placental Abruption – Placental abruption occurs when the placenta partially or completely separates from the uterine wall prematurely. The baby receives key nutrients from the placenta. Thus, when the separation occurs, the fetus can go into distress. The baby’s heart rate can signify the abruption.
• Prolapsed Umbilical Cord – The umbilical cord connects the baby and mother together. It is a tube-like structure that carries nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. During a prolapse, the umbilical cord drops ahead of the baby through the open cervix. The baby can press down on the cord, which can reduce oxygen. The heart rate can alert doctors to this form of distress.
• Hypoxia / Anoxia – Hypoxia refers to the event where less oxygen is reaching the baby, while anoxia means there is no oxygen reaching the vessels. A baby’s heart rate will change if they do not receive enough oxygen. If doctors fail to monitor the heart, this event can lead to serious brain injuries.

Seeking Compensation for Your Child’s Injuries

At Kinnard Law, we have more than 150 years of combined experience helping our clients obtain compensation for injuries caused by negligence. With the medical and legal complexities involved in birth injury litigation, it is essential to work with an experienced legal team. If you or your child sustained serious injuries because your physician did not monitor heart rates, contact our Nashville birth injury attorneys today.

We have the experience to recognize failure to monitor fetal distress as a cause for:

• Erb's palsy
• Cerebral palsy
• Brain damage
• Umbilical cord compression
• Reduced blood flow

Contact Our Nashville Fetal Distress Lawyers

From record-setting verdicts to national awards, Randall L. Kinnard has earned a powerhouse reputation in the legal industry. Recent honors include "Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year for Nashville 2011, 2013 & 2017" and induction into the Inner Circle of Advocates, a group of the top 100 plaintiff trial attorneys in the United States. As a firm, we have also received numerous awards and honors.

Call us at (615) 933-2893 to schedule your free consultation.