Incorrect Dosage and Birth Injuries
An incorrect dose of medication can cause medical problems for anyone. However, such an accident could be especially devastating for a woman who is pregnant or delivering a baby. Many drugs that pregnant women take will affect their unborn child as well, and if an incorrect dosage leads to a medical emergency for the mother, the fetus will likely be in danger as well.
Examples of the Effects of Incorrect Dosage during Pregnancy
The following are just a few examples of how incorrect dosage incidents in mothers could potentially affect their unborn babies:
- If a pregnant woman has to take medication to treat high blood pressure, an overdose of this medication could have various unknown effects on the baby. An inadequate dose could cause the mother’s blood pressure to be dangerously high, causing harm to the baby.
- Studies have shown that women who experienced overdoses of certain over-the-counter medications during pregnancy had greater risks of losing the baby or having a baby born with disabilities. Such an overdose could occur at a health facility where the mother is receiving treatment and proper records are not kept to keep track of medication administered.
- Drugs that are used to induce labor have been linked to birth injuries. If these drugs are used too heavily, they can cause the mother’s contractions to be too long and too frequent, leading to a lack of oxygen for the baby.
If your baby suffered birth injuries and you believe that the incorrect dosage of medications you were given during pregnancy may be to blame, you may be entitled to financial compensation. While this cannot undo the suffering you and your baby have gone through, it can help to cover any expenses related to the injury, and can help provide for your baby’s future.
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Doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers are held to high standards when it comes to on-the-job errors. There should be systems in place to prevent errors such as incorrect dosages. When these errors occur, innocent families suffer. If you have suffered due to an incorrect dosage during pregnancy or delivery, call the Philadelphia birth injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., at 215-238-1130 today.