Chicago OB-GYN Malpractice Lawyers

Gynecologists diagnose and treat various reproductive ailments and help women make essential decisions regarding their reproductive health. A gynecologist's choices can have long-lasting impacts overall on women’s health.

Diagnosis and gynecological treatment errors can lead to pain and suffering, severe injuries, and sometimes even death.

The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC represent women who suffer OB-GYN malpractice due to substandard care from an OB/GYN. Contact our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation to discuss receiving the compensation you deserve.

Our law offices ensure our injured clients receive any necessary medical treatment they require to move forward with their lives as well as compensation for their damages.

An Ongoing Need for More OB/GYN Doctors

There is a steady demand for qualified OB/GYN specialists. It is estimated that America’s demand for gynecologists and obstetricians will increase by 18% in 2022, contributing to their lucrative median salary of over $200,000 per year.

Those who pursue subspecialties and are members of reputable medical organizations can earn even more.

Medical Malpractice Insurance for OB-GYN

Along with neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, obstetric gynecologists are sued more frequently than other specialties. It is because of their high-risk clientele. Consequently, OB/GYNs malpractice insurance premiums are among the highest. New York has the highest premiums for physicians at $7.025 billion a year, followed by Pennsylvania, with North Dakota coming in at $28.35 million as the lowest.

With OBGYN malpractice insurance, a healthcare professional is protected from inherent risks if there is a failure to diagnose correctly, the patient is injured or dies from treatment.

The essential factor in choosing an OBGYN practice insurance policy is the coverage limit, which is the maximum amount the insurer will payout in the event of a health care claim.

Medical Bills Resulting from Obstetrics and Gynecology Malpractice

If you're a mother who has been injured due to the negligence of an obstetrician or gynecologist, you may be wondering how you'll afford the medical bills.

OBGYN malpractice can result in significant medical bills and costs such as lost wages and emotional distress.

A patient of obstetric or gynecologic malpractice may be able to recover these costs through a healthcare malpractice lawsuit.

A successful medical malpractice lawsuit can help you receive the compensation to cover your medical expenses and other damages.

Additionally, a mother who cannot bear children in the future due to an OBGYN’s malpractice may be able to receive compensation for her losses.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Due to OBGYN Malpractice

If a pregnant woman suffers injuries due to medical negligence, she may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the responsible physician. Healthcare malpractice might have happened if a qualified doctor treating a patient would have acted differently in the same situation.

The most sued specialty in the US is obstetrics and gynecology, with more than 4,000 suits filed against OB-GYNs every year.

The medical professional's failure to adhere to the standard of care when caring for a mother and her child can result in a devastating injury.

If a mother has sued a gynecologist for failure to provide proper prenatal care, she will likely need the help of OBGYN malpractice attorneys.

OB-GYN Failure to Offer Appropriate Medical Care to the Mother During Pregnancy and After Birth

The treatment of mother and child during pregnancy is one of the most critical and potentially dangerous times in a person's life.

A gynecological malpractice claim can arise when an act or omission by the doctor results in injury to the mother or child.

There are many ways that an OB-GYN can commit malpractice. For example, failing to properly monitor the mother or child during pregnancy, delivery, or post-natal care can result in serious injury or death.

Additionally, failing to detect a condition or provide proper treatment can lead to gynecological malpractice claims.

The Responsibilities of a Gynecologist – OB/GYN

Gynecology focuses on women’s reproductive health and covers diseases, complications, and the resulting injuries to reproductive organs such as the uterus, cervix, vagina, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

Gynecologists who choose a medical specialty in obstetrics care will also guide patients through pregnancy while addressing any complications during the pregnancy and labor, such as umbilical cord complications.

There is an extensive range of procedures and tests that gynecologists may be called upon to perform, including the following:

• Breast examinations: Several tests can be performed to detect tumors or cancerous masses located in the breasts. These include mammograms, breast MRIs, breast ultrasounds, and breast biopsies. Depending on what the reasonable doctor is looking for and what they already know, one or more tests may be ordered to determine whether a biopsy needs to be taken or additional tests are required.
• Breast surgeries: Several surgical procedures can be performed with a range from breast-conserving surgeries that seek only to remove the lump to a mastectomy removal of the entire breast depending on the location of a cancerous mass and its risks to the woman’s well-being,
• Tubal ligation: A woman seeking permanent birth control can elect to undergo this procedure. The invasive operation prevents pregnancy by blocking the fallopian tubes so that the eggs cannot reach the uterus.
• Pelvic ultrasounds: An ultrasound may be necessary to help obstetricians see an image of the primary reproductive organs. It is created by reflecting sound waves sent into the pelvis and back to the ultrasound receiver. The resulting image can confirm a prognosis or reveal the need for further testing.
• Pap tests: Routine Pap tests help in the early detection of cervical cancer. The disease is one of the deadliest forms of cancer due to its propensity to spread rapidly to neighboring organs and tissue. Other reproductive concerns can also be revealed through this test.
• Cystoscopies: Women suffering from complications to the urinary tract may need to undergo these tests to determine the cause of pain and discomfort. Doctors can view the bladder, urethra, and other areas of a urinary tract to locate the source of bleeding, infections, blockages, or the presence of cancer.
• Hysterectomies: The removal of the uterus may be necessary to treat certain medical conditions, including the presence of cancer. The ovaries and fallopian tubes may be removed along with the uterus. Other reproductive organs may be lost during the procedure as well.
• Endometrial ablation: A woman suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding may undergo this procedure to reduce or completely stop the bleeding. The procedure is only for a woman who no longer plans on having a child because it may render them sterile.
• Fetal ultrasounds: These ultrasounds allow a doctor to monitor fetuses' progress in pregnant women to determine whether the child is developing correctly and detect any fetal distress. Comprehensive testing can identify potential birth injuries and delivery problems, leading to cerebral palsy or other congenital disabilities.
• Fetal heart monitoring: Monitoring an unborn child's heart rate during high-risk pregnancies, labor, and delivery is crucial to identify any signs of risk that might require immediate medical care or attention. Abnormal heart rates can indicate potentially serious problems, which a physician may need to resolve before the child is delivered via caesarean sections.
• Bone density testing: A bone density test can detect early signs of osteoporosis and other bone disorders common in women. It detects bones' density and mineral content through x-rays or a select CT scan.

Gynecologist Medical Malpractice May Result in Severe Injury or Death

Any failure by a doctor can impact the patient’s health. However, a mistake by a gynecologist or an obstetrician can resonate across an entire family.

A pregnant woman can suffer physical and emotional trauma when OBGYN malpractice resulting from medical negligence or unnecessary surgery alters her chances of having children or denies her intimate relations with her partner.

In some cases, OB/GYNs or general surgeons’ medical negligence may also harm an unborn child, resulting in congenital disabilities, developmental disorders, or permanent brain damage.

Here are some examples of mistakes and errors that may be considered medical negligence by a jury resolving a medical malpractice claim involving an OB/GYN doctor:

• Failure to diagnose cancer: Cancers of the cervix and uterus are known to spread rapidly if unchecked. Early detection is crucial to many women’s survival. The failure of an OB/GYN to order appropriate tests can mean life or death.
• Late diagnosis of medical conditions: Some prenatal conditions and illnesses are easily treated when a patient receives a prompt diagnosis but can become quite serious if allowed to progress. Aside from cancer, shared concerns during pregnancy and labor can injure the child if a physician does not address them promptly.
• Incorrect diagnosis or misinterpreting the results: Examples of this can include tests that do not thoroughly examine all of the critical areas of concern, such as a pelvic exam that ignores the cervix or the doctor's failure to investigate an abnormality found during a mammogram Pap test.
• Injuries to children during or following birth: It is essential for a physician to monitor the child for signs of distress and take decisive action when the child’s life is at risk. These actions can include ordering a device-assisted delivery or a C-section. Some of the devices used in assisted deliveries can also injure the child, so they must be used with care only by those who have received adequate training to prevent birth injuries such as shoulder dystocia.
• Injuries to reproductive organs due to defective devices: Some procedures utilize transvaginal mesh devices to help with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Many patients have reported complications after these devices caused internal bleeding, organ perforation, and other serious injuries. In other cases, some patients may be injured by defective surgical tools used in operations or other surgical errors, leading to the development or spread of cancer or infection.

These are only some examples of medical negligence errors that can forever change the lives of those affected by poor medical care.

In addition to enduring physical suffering, many women are also forced to endure shame and embarrassment when they can no longer have children or enjoy normal sexual relations with their loved ones due to their injuries. In other cases, the advancement of cancer into the third or fourth stage means a death sentence.

The Difference, an Experienced Chicago Medical Malpractice Gynecologist Lawyer, Can Make in the Outcome of Your Malpractice Suit

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is a leading Chicago medical malpractice law firm serving the Chicago area. We owe our success to specialized legal teams with knowledge and experience working on cases like yours.

The attorneys at our Chicago, IL, law offices understand that choosing the best counsel will be the most crucial decision individuals make when pursuing compensation in medical malpractice cases. Your attorney can assure you that our healthcare malpractice lawyers can provide you with the best expert perspectives because of their extensive medical law experience.

Contact our attorneys today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) to arrange a free case evaluation with one of our award-winning Chicago gynecologists and obstetricians' medical malpractice attorneys. Our law firm can discuss your case, legal rights, and how your attorney can help you receive compensation for your damages.

After reviewing your case's details during the free consultation, your attorney will discuss the best way to proceed with your case and what you can expect throughout the entire legal process. If we cannot recover compensation on your behalf, you are assured that our services will cost you nothing.

Resources:

• Adverse Medical Errors in Obstetrics and Gynecology