Doctor ignores signs of trapped umbilical cord
When the oxygen supply to an unborn baby is severely restricted or cut off the baby can suffer severe injuries, including cerebral palsy. One of the ways in which the baby’s oxygen supply can be adversely affected happens when there is a problem with the umbilical cord. In this case, the baby’s umbilical cord was trapped between the mother’s pelvic bone and the baby’s head. When a baby experiences a dangerous drop in oxygen supply the baby’s heart rate is affect and can be picked up as a change in the readings from the fetal heart rate monitor. The condition is an example of Fetal Distress. Yet in this case the physician and nurses both failed to recognize or act upon the signs of fetal distress. As such, they failed to perform an emergency C-section which could have prevented the baby from suffering any permanent damage. The law firm that handled this case reported that they were able to achieve a settlement in the case for $7.25 Million.