Gynecology Malpractice Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

While we would all enjoy the peace of mind that comes with the belief that gynecologists make very few mistakes, this isn’t the proven reality of the profession. 44% of gynecologists have been sued not once but twice in their careers, according to the Medscape OB/GYN Malpractice Report (2017). That same report showed that almost 90% of gynecologists have been sued for medical malpractice at least once in their career and 10% of gynecologists have been sued a remarkable 6 to 9 times. If you suffered injuries due to malpractice, a knowledgeable Pittsburgh gynecologist negligence lawyer can help.

If you or your child have been injured by your gynecologist’s actions or failure to act, you should contact Matzus Law, LLC, an experienced Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania medical malpractice firm.

What is Gynecologist Medical Malpractice

Common Types of Gynecologist Medical Malpractice

The most common types of gynecologist malpractice include:

• Failure to properly diagnose the patient;
• Misdiagnosis, which would include a gynecologist’s failure to identify a disorder during pregnancy that could lead to a birth defect;
• Performing unnecessary or incorrect surgery;
• Failure to perform a cesarean section in time;
• Improper use of forceps;
• Causing brain damage of the newborn baby by lack of oxygen;
• Failure to recognize and remedy complications of the umbilical cord;
• Failure to discover serious prenatal conditions such as a tubal or ectopic pregnancy.

The reason that gynecologist malpractice is so serious is because these types of errors regularly result in a wide range of injuries that can affect a child for life. The most serious injuries resulting from gynecologist malpractice can also lead to the death of the fetus and the mother.

Injuries as a result of gynecologist malpractice include:

• Cerebral Palsy;
• Erb’s Palsy;
• Klumpke’s Palsy;
• Brain injuries;
• Fractures:
• Spinal cord damage, including Spina Bifida;
• Internal bleeding;
• Paralysis.

Establishing Negligence in a Case Involving Gynecologist Malpractice

OB-GYN malpractice is defined as the failure of a gynecologist or the medical professionals on their staff to perform up to the minimum standards accepted within the medical community.

Because every pregnancy may have unforeseen complications, how a gynecologist reacts to these complications is one of the critical things to examine in any potential gynecologist malpractice claim. A claim can be filed against any gynecologist or medical profession serving on the doctor’s team who treats a pregnant woman.

When a gynecologist is negligent, this can make existing conditions in the mother and fetus much worse and can bring about complications that could have otherwise been avoided.

If a gynecologist or other healthcare professional on their team is negligent during the diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up care of a patient, the mother or child can be permanently harmed or lose their lives.

Negligence is The Legal Basis of all Medical Malpractice Claims, Including Gynecologist Negligence in Pittsburgh

At Matzus Law, LLC, we counsel our clients that in order to bring any valid medical malpractice case, it is not enough to identify that the gynecologist committed an error in treatment and that you were injured. The mishap must have been due to the medical negligence of a doctor, or other responsible medical professional.

The following legal elements must always be established to show that a medical professional was negligent:

• The medical professional had a standard of care to uphold during the procedure. The standard of care is the level of care and skill that is expected of the medical professional. The law looks at what a medical professional with similar training would have done in the same or similar situation. Gynecologists are trained in medical school to perform many different tests and procedures that fit the standard of care for that situation.
• The medical professional failed to uphold the standard. Whether by action or inaction, a doctor or other medical professional performs below the standard of care and skill expected of them. This is a crucial point. The medical professional is not only responsible when they act, but also when they fail to act but the standard of care dictates that they should have. For a gynecologist, this includes all of the steps in properly diagnosing and treating a patient, They are always bound to follow the best practices of gynecology, their chosen area of medical specialization.
• The medical professional’s diagnostic error caused you harm. There has to be a demonstrable connection between the gynecologist’s failure to act according to the prescribed standard of care and your medical condition. If there is no causal link between the two, there is no legal case. Only where your condition could have been known if the medical professional adhered to the standard of care will there be the grounds for a legal malpractice case against a gynecologist or other medical professional on their team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gynecologist Medical Malpractice in Pittsburgh

Has Matzus Law, LLC recovered money for clients who have suffered injuries because a gynecologist failed in their duty of care?

Yes, we have many years of experience in this area. It is important to know that In any medical malpractice lawsuit, including those against a gynecologist, a plaintiff can seek to recover lost wages, hospital bills, medical expenses from past and future treatment, as well as damages for pain and suffering caused by your injuries. Contact Matzus Law, LLC today so we can begin a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding your potential medical malpractice claim

Because so many gynecologists have been sued, should I worry about my medical care?

No, you should always seek the best medical care you can find and not avoid seeing a qualified gynecologist. Because medical errors are so common in this field and gynecologist malpractice is so rampant, you need to be very careful in choosing your doctor.

Is there another type of doctor that gets sued more often than gynecologists do?

No. Gynecologists are sued more than any other type of doctor. If you or your child has been injured by your gynecologist or their team of medical professionals, please contact Matzus Law, LLC today to discuss the details of your potential claim.