Suffering a stillbirth (a baby born without signs of life after 24 weeks of pregnancy) is one of the worst events that an expectant parent and their family can encounter. It is of course devastating for all concerned but if the baby’s death could have been avoided due to the maternity care provided, it may be even more heartbreaking for parents and their families.
Whilst no news can ever make up for the loss of a baby, making a stillbirth negligence claim can sometimes bring parents and their families an element of closure if they have lost a baby as a result of negligent medical actions.
What does a stillbirth negligence claim include?
Whilst not all stillbirths are avoidable, regular check-ups during pregnancy can help highlight any symptoms early and keep a baby healthy.
If a parent believes that the medical care they and their baby received contributed to a stillbirth – this can include midwifery care, GP advice, care on a labour ward or during delivery – they may be able to bring a claim if:
- They did not receive regular check-ups and routine tests, such as blood pressure monitoring
- Symptoms were missed, such as pre-eclampsia, or test or scan results were misinterpreted during check-ups
- They were not referred to a consultant despite certain test or scan results being unusual or if they were considered high risk due to diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure
- There was a failure to investigate a lack of foetal movement raised by a mother or another medical professional
- If symptoms were not treated correctly or quickly enough
The compensation received as a result of making a claim can assist parents and their families with funding care and support for physical and psychological injuries. Additionally, by making a claim it will hopefully assist in ensuring that the same medical errors do not happen again to other expectant mothers and their babies.
How Nelsons can help
Helen Wilkinson is a Paralegal in our expert Medical Negligence team.
The process of pursuing a stillbirth negligence claim is a traumatising experience to go through and it requires understanding, empathy, and careful handling. At Nelsons, our team of specialists have advised on many stillbirth claims in recent years. When we are contacted by parents who have lost a baby due to stillbirth but believe the medical care they received contributed to the death of their baby we take the time to listen to them, review any investigation reports free of charge and advise them if we think they should consider pursuing a claim for clinical negligence if we have concerns about how their baby died. Our team works with independent medical experts to investigate what happened, and whether or not the outcome could or should have been different for them and their baby.
We will seek to get answers, and if appropriate, compensation for a parent’s loss. We will also help them to obtain an apology and request changes to policy and processes to ensure that no other family has to suffer the tragic loss of a baby in the same circumstances.
If you would like any advice concerning the subjects discussed in this article or would like to discuss your case with us, please contact Helen or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
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