Anaesthetic Errors - Injury to Mother During Childbirth

Negligent Anaesthetic Error During Childbirth

While many women dream of an entirely natural birth without the use of pain relief, the reality is that giving birth to a child can be one of the most painful experiences that a human can endure, and so anaesthesia can be indispensable, even for those who originally didn’t want to take that approach.

When administering any kind of anaesthetic, the anaesthetist will take a variety of factors into account so as to ensure that the correct type of medication is used, in the correct dosage, in the correct location, at the correct time – any tiny mistake can have life-changing consequences for mother and child.

An epidural involves an anaesthetic being injected into the spine in order to stop patients feeling any pain in the lower body during childbirth. This involves an incredibly delicate insertion of the needle into the spine, and so any tiny slip or movement can have devastating results. In some cases the issues can arise during the insertion, in others the problems can occur during or due to its removal. Take for example the case of a woman from Lewisham who, after nearly two hours of pushing and after two attempts at assisted delivery, was given a C-section to help with the birth of her child. Shockingly her epidural was removed before the surgeon commenced the surgery, meaning that the woman felt excruciating pain as he began to cut into the abdomen – only at that point was additional pain relief provided. As a result of the pain she suffered during the operation, she now struggles with severe anxiety and PTSD, and was awarded nearly £30,000 in compensation.

There are three main elements to anaesthetics:

• Hypnotics – which render you unconscious and keep you that way
• Analgesics – which control pain
• Muscle relaxants – which stop you moving about on the operating table

Anaesthetists must perfectly balance the mixture of drugs for each individual patient, in order to avoid serious issues: too much can lead to death, too little can mean that patients can feel the surgery going on.

If you or someone you care for has suffered as a result of anaesthetic errors during childbirth, it is likely that you are eligible to make a claim for compensation. Our solicitors have many years of experience in handling claims such as these and are best placed to offer advice as to how to get the compensation pay-out that you and your family deserve. We understand that childbirth, while the most natural thing in the world, can be traumatic, even when things go smoothly. When things go wrong you need the support of trained professionals who will do their utmost to make sure you get the support and compensation that you deserve. Contact us today and let us see how we can help you.