An ultrasound examination for expecting parents is usually a happy and memorable event. Parents often come away with their first “picture” of their baby, which they can show to family and friends. Unfortunately, when certain issues are missed or misinterpreted on an ultrasound, the results can be devastating. If you believe that you or your baby suffered harm due to an ultrasound error caused by a medical professional’s negligence, you need to consult a reputable Rochester birth injury attorney without delay.
Ultrasound is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. The images can provide valuable information for diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases and conditions. While ultrasounds are used for many reasons, one of the most common reasons is to view the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy and monitor the developing baby’s health. This typically happens during the second trimester of pregnancy, between 18 and 20 weeks as a way to make sure everything is going as it should.
Misdiagnosis can occur when medical professionals misinterpret or misread ultrasound tests. When this happens, it can lead to serious and life-altering conditions. The following are examples of things that could be missed by medical professionals:
- Congenital limb defects such as deformed feet, arms, hands and legs;
- Brain defects such as enlarged brains due to tumors or hydrocephalus;
- Heart defects such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome;
- Spinal defects such as spina bifida;
- Incorrectly estimating fetal weight;
- Failing to identify fetal position.
If a medical professional’s error caused your child’s birth injury, you can likely recover compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes injury or death by failing to adhere to the standard of care that a reasonably competent medical professional would have used under the same or similar circumstances. In order to win a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff has to establish the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence: i) the medical professional owed a duty a duty of care to the patient; ii) the medical professional violated the duty of care owed to the patient by making an ultrasound error; and iii) the medical professional’s violation was a direct and proximate cause of the patient’s preventable harm.
In addition to ultrasounds leading to birth injuries, when serious medical conditions are missed, they can rob potential parents of critical choices during the pregnancy.
If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to an ultrasound error, you may be eligible to recover compensation through a malpractice claim. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our highly skilled Rochester birth injury attorneys will thoroughly examine the facts of your case and help you determine your legal rights and options. Time is of the essence in these cases so it is important to act as quickly as possible after you discover your medical injury. If you would like a free consultation about your claim, call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts:
Medical Malpractice in Buttocks Augmentation Cases, Rochester Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Blog, June 29, 2018
Malpractice Caps Have Led to Doctors Ordering Fewer Invasive Tests, Rochester Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Blog, June 22, 2018
Organ Puncture or Perforation Caused by New York Medical Malpractice, Rochester Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Blog, June 15, 2018