Los Angeles Maternal Infection Lawyer
Infections during pregnancy and childbirth are well-documented medical risks. When healthcare providers in Los Angeles fail to properly treat a maternal infection, the consequences for both the mother and baby can be devastating. Conditions like Group B strep and chorioamnionitis are treatable when caught early, but delays in care can lead to severe damage that the victim may never recover from.
If your family was harmed by a provider’s failure to manage a maternal infection, California law may entitle you to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Read on to learn how these cases develop and what your legal options may look like.
Which Infections Pose the Greatest Danger During Pregnancy and Delivery?
Two of the most frequently litigated maternal infections in birth injury cases are Group B streptococcus (GBS) and chorioamnionitis.
GBS is a bacterial infection found in the lower genital tract of up to 35% of pregnant women. It often produces no symptoms in the mother, which is why the CDC recommends routine screening between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy. When GBS goes undetected or untreated, the bacteria can pass to the baby during delivery and cause pneumonia, meningitis, or bloodstream infections.
Chorioamnionitis is an infection of the amniotic fluid and membranes surrounding the baby. It typically develops after prolonged labor or when the amniotic sac has been ruptured for an extended period. Left untreated, it can trigger maternal sepsis and deprive the baby of oxygen at a critical stage of development.
How Does Medical Negligence Lead to a Maternal Infection Injury?
Not every maternal infection rises to the level of malpractice. However, if a healthcare provider fails to meet established medical standards, the resulting harm may be grounds for a lawsuit. Negligence in maternal infection cases often takes one of the following forms:
- Skipping the recommended GBS screening during the third trimester
- Failing to administer IV antibiotics to a GBS-positive mother before or during delivery
- Overlooking clinical signs of chorioamnionitis, such as maternal fever or rapid heart rate
- Waiting too long to begin antibiotic therapy once an infection has been identified
- Not monitoring the newborn for early indicators of infection after a high-risk delivery
When any of these errors directly causes harm to the mother or baby, the treating provider and the facility may both bear legal responsibility.
What Records Matter Most in a Maternal Infection Case?
Maternal infection claims live and die on the medical documentation. Unlike some malpractice cases where the injury is visible, the proof here is buried deep in lab results and clinical notes. Records your attorney will want to obtain and review include:
- GBS screening results from the third trimester, or documentation showing the test was never ordered
- Nursing notes tracking maternal temperature and heart rate throughout labor, with particular attention to any signs of developing infection
- Antibiotic administration records showing when treatment began and at what dosage
- The newborn’s initial blood cultures and APGAR scores from immediately after delivery
Gaps in this documentation can be just as telling as the entries themselves. If standard screenings were skipped or warning signs went uncharted, those omissions become powerful evidence that the standard of care was not met.
Contact a Los Angeles Maternal Infection Attorney for a Free Consultation
Your family trusted your medical team to protect you and your baby. If that trust is broken by a preventable infection, the law provides a path toward liability. Contact The Law Office of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel and Associates to set up a free consultation today by calling (800) 541-9376 or reaching out online.
