Lawsuit Claims Newborn Died After Doctor Failed To Administer Antibiotics

Group b strep poses serious concerns when it impacts a newborn.An infant with a a

group b streptococcus infection is at significant jeopardy of severe complications and even death. The infection could abruptly develop into pneumonia, sepsis (an infection that spreads across the body), and meningitis. Given the risks a group b streptococcus infection poses to babies physicians generally agree that it is necessary to reduce 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 therefore several circumstances that doctors factor in in figuring out whether there is an increased risk that the mother will transmit the bacteria to her infant. The mother's 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 strep is when her membranes rupture in excess of eighteen hours preceding labor. If a doctor is advised of a known history or the presence of any of the risk factors yet does not administer antibiotics and the child afterwards develops a Group B Streptococcus infection and suffers substantial injury as a result, the doctor might be liable for failing to meet the standard of care.

Consider the report of a lawsuit regarding a nineteen year old female who, prior to reaching full term, was admitted to a hospital to give birth to her baby. It was known by the doctor who delivered the infant that the woman had suffered a rupture of her membranes beyond eighteen hours preceding the beginning of labor. Yet even though this put the expectant mother at risk of a Group B Strep infection the physician failed to give antibiotics for Group b streptococcus. Once birth her newborn was depressed and required resuscitation. The medical staff at the hospital eventually became aware that this was on account of a Group B Strep infection. Regardless of attempts at treatment by the hospital staff the newborn died 2 days after birth due to complications from the infection. The mother went forward with a claim and the law firm that represented her announced that following trial a jury awarded the mother $457,000 for her loss.

As this claim illustrates not administering correct antibiotics in the course of labor for an expectant mother whose membranes ruptured more than eighteen hours before may lead to the transmission of group b strep to her newborn. The implications might be tragic. The infant could suffer permanent harm or, as in the case previously mentioned, might not live. Under such circumstances, the failure to follow through with the administration of the proper antibiotics in the course of labor or, if needed, following delivery may lead to liability under a medical malpractice or wrongful death claim.

Lawsuit Claims Newborn Died After Doctor Failed To Administer Antibiotics

By: J. Hernandez

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