Fetal heart-rate monitoring is only one piece of the record, but it can be a critical one. The legal analysis may also include maternal vital signs, medication timing, progress of labor, operative decision-making, neonatal condition and later neurologic evidence.
A birth injury is not proof of negligence
Many complications cannot be prevented. A malpractice case requires evidence that the applicable obstetric, nursing or neonatal standard was breached and that the breach caused the injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does fetal distress automatically mean malpractice?
No. The review focuses on whether clinicians appropriately interpreted the monitoring and clinical picture and responded within the applicable standard.
Why are fetal monitoring strips important?
They can provide time-stamped information about fetal heart rate patterns, contractions and the sequence of clinical responses during labor.
General information only. This article is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Medical malpractice deadlines and outcomes are fact-specific.