Personal Injury Lawyer
Pitocin is a form of synthetic oxytocin, a hormone released in a woman’s body during labor. The hormone causes uterine contractions, but when there medical complications or prolonged labor, pitocin may be used to induce the labor.
There are some serious risks of using pitocin which is why doctors will only use it when absolutely necessary. There are many medical professionals who scrutinize the use of the drug particularly its ability to harm the fetus or mother. This may be true even when the drug is correctly administered. However, when a pitocin error does occur, the child is at risk for life long injuries or death.
Using Pitocin to Induce Labor
The use of pitocin to induce labor has became a controversial topic. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York released a study which suggested that the use of pitocin and newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit have a low APGAR reading. APGAR is a type of scoring test which babies are given as soon as they are outside of the womb. This study is not conclusive, but has been the precursor for continued research.
Although the overall safety of the drug is still speculative, it is known that when pitocin is not administered properly, serious risks for the mother and child can result. When too much pitocin is given, is not adequately monitored, or given in the wrong situation, the mother could experience:
- A pelvic hematoma
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Ruptured uterus
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Death
The risks associated with the mother can also cause significant consequences to the unborn child. Furthermore, if too much pitocin is administered, the child can suffer from an overdose. The overdose could lead to a lack of oxygen, liver failure, slowed heartbeat, and death. If the child survives an overdose of pitocin, they could suffer a life long injury, including:
- Brain damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Heart problems
- Liver damage
Pitocin should only be administered when a team of qualified medical staff can monitor the mother and child. Unfortunately, the medication is often misused, mis-administered, or given without the right monitoring. These errors are serious and puts the mother and child at risk for injury.
A Birth Injury Lawyer for Pitocin Injury Cases
Pitocin does carry a risk which means the all medical staff should use it with caution. Sadly, our law firm has known of cases that involve a mother child who suffered permanent injuries or death from pitocin misuse.
If you are the mother or father of a child who was harmed by pitocin, you may have the right to file a birth injury claim under medical malpractice law. This type of claim may help you to recover monetary compensation for your financial losses, as well as your pain and suffering. Furthermore, punitive damages could be available depending on the circumstances. These act as a punishment against the medical staff, facility, manufacturer, or other liable party.
To learn more, call a birth injury attorney Phoenix, AZ who understands pitocin cases today.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Rispoli Law, PLLC for their insight into birth injuries and legal cases.