Epidural Injuries in Ohio
Ohio Birth Injury Attorney Representing Clients Injured by Epidurals
Pregnant women often take much time to consider their options for labor and delivery and make a “birth plan.” This includes whether they want to have epidural anesthesia administered to them. Epidural anesthesia is a regional anesthetic that blocks nerve impulses and, therefore, pain during contractions.
Some women complete the labor and delivery process without any anesthetic. Others get an epidural, either because they planned on an epidural from the beginning, or because the pain becomes too unbearable without one. In either case, a pregnant women should not experience serious injuries because she requested and received epidural anesthesia.
If you sustained injuries due to the improper administration of an epidural, you should discuss your rights with an experienced epidural injury lawyer in Ohio. The Eisen Law Firm handles all types of birth injury cases, including injuries to the mother and the newborn. Contact us directly for more information.
Epidural Errors and Injuries
There are two types of epidurals used for labor - a traditional epidural or a combined spinal-epidural (CSE), commonly referred to as a “spinal.” Both types involve injecting a combination of anesthetics and narcotics very close to the spinal cord in the lower back. This is a highly critical and risky area, and many things can go wrong when an anesthesiologist makes a mistake.
Some errors that a doctor might make regarding an epidural include:
- Not properly inquiring about possible anesthesia allergies
- Injecting the medication in the wrong site
- Over-medicating the mother
- Administering the epidural too close to delivery
- Not monitoring for maternal or fetal distress
- Not taking proper action if distress is evident
Administering an epidural requires extreme precision and ongoing care following the injection. When this does not happen properly, a pregnant woman can suffer serious effects, such as:
- Injuries to the spinal membrane
- Dizziness or seizures
- Nerve damage
- Chronic lower back pain
- Infections
- Arachnoiditis
Epidural errors can also lead to complications during delivery, especially if the epidural was administered too late during labor or the mother was over-medicated. Some complications might include:
- Drop in maternal blood pressure
- Maternal fever
- Increased need for forceps or vacuum extraction
The above can cause distress to the infant, including oxygen deprivation, brain injuries, and other issues that can lead to long-term impairments for the child.
Your Rights after an Epidural Injury
You should be fully informed of all the risks of an epidural before you agree to have one. However, warning a patient of possible risks does not excuse negligent errors on the part of the anesthesiologist who places the epidural. If your epidural injury was the result of medical negligence, you have the right to hold the doctor liable for any injuries to you or your child by filing a medical malpractice claim.
Consult with an Experienced Lawyer Handling Epidural Injuries in Ohio
The Eisen Law Firm focuses on helping patients injured by medical malpractice, and this includes birth injuries and epidural injuries. Call 216-687-0900 or contact us online to discuss a possible case with our Ohio epidural injury attorneys.