Parents Pursue Case Against Pediatrician For Their Disabled Child

When an infant with a Group B Strep infection does not immediately receive antibiotics the results can be devastating

. Because of this it is important for physicians to check out GBS if a newborn shows symptoms of an infection and either rule it out with diagnostic testing or follow the treatment guidelines. Below we consider a claim that came about after a baby who showed symptoms of a GBS infection was not diagnosed right away by the doctor.

Here, an expecting mother underwent screening for GBS while she was in the 35th and 37th week of her pregnancy. The screening test showed that she carried the GBS bacteria. Given this result, while she was in labor at the hospital she was appropriately given antibiotics. Yet, even with the proper administration of antibiotics during labor, it is still possible for the baby to develop GBS. The mothers infant appeared healthy at birth. Bur, six weeks later the baby started showing symptoms of infection. The mother took the baby to a pediatrician who found that the child had a high temperature. The doctor, unfortunately, did not examine the prenatal records even though she had access to them.

Unaware of this history, the physician ordered testing to determine the source of the babys symptoms. By failing to immediately administer antibiotics the physician let critical time to go by during which the newborn became septic, developed meningitis and suffered strokes. This left the baby with mental retardation and an untreatable seizure disorder .

The mother sued the physician for failing to diagnose the group b streptococcus infection and administer treatment right away. During litigation the doctor admitted that she would not have waited to administer antibiotics had she became aware that the mother had been a carrier of the bacteria during the pregnancy. The law firm that handled the matter reported that the physician settled the lawsuit for $6.15 Million.

There is an important lesson that this case brings out. If there is a risk that symptoms may be the result of a dangerous underlying condition, like a GBS infection, that may result in permanent disabilities for the child if not treated immediately a doctor is expected to consider them as a possibility except if the physician can eliminate them as the cause. If the physician does not take into account a Group B Strep infection in the differential diagnosis thereby delaying treatment with ensuing tragic effects the doctor may be liable under a malpractice claim to recuperate for the injuries suffered by the child to safeguard the child's future.

by: Joseph Hernandez

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