Mothers go through nine months of pregnancy, excited about the day when their babies will be delivered. In Prince Georges, Maryland, readers understand that the birth of an infant is not without possible risks and complications. It is the responsibility of the obstetrician and medical staff to reduce those risks and ensure the baby's safe delivery. However, not all deliveries go smoothly. There have been many recorded cases of birth injuries caused by the medical staff's negligence. Those injuries often leave the baby permanently damaged, and, in some severe cases, either the baby or the mother, or both, passes away.
Wrongful death is the legal term used in cases where the death of a person was caused by another person's negligence. A birth injury can be considered wrongful death if doctors and medical staff made some errors that led to injuries, which later caused the death of the baby, the mother or both. For example, if a baby was born with a birth injury due to a difficult labor and the baby later died due to a birth injury, the medical staff that was present during the delivery may be held accountable.
In stillbirth cases, medical staff is not often held liable, depending on the situation. For example, if the mother of the child was involved in a traumatic event, which led to the baby's death, the medical staff typically would not be held responsible. However, medical staff can be held responsible if their error caused the unfortunate incident.
Wrongful death lawsuits are often filed by parents or surviving family members. Although this legal action cannot bring back the life lost, compensation can help to eliminate at least some of the financial burden that occurs in such a situation.
