Skip to content
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Injury Lawyers | Attorney At Law
Pribanic & Pribanic | Pittsburgh Injury Attorneys Logo
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Injury Lawyers | Attorney At Law
  • Practice Areas
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Personal Injury
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Birth Injuries
    • Catastrophic Injuries
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Defective Product
  • About the Firm
    • Our Attorneys
    • Case Results
    • Reviews & Testimonials
    • Careers
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Legal Glossary
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Contact
  • Search

Medical negligence leads to Pennsylvania birth injury

Home  >  Pribanic & Pribanic Archives  >  Medical negligence leads to Pennsylvania birth injury

Published July 5, 2015 | In Medical Malpractice
Medical negligence leads to Pennsylvania birth injury

The delivery of a baby is a delicate procedure. If a physician does not continually monitor the vitals of the baby, a serious injury can occur that may have life-altering effects.A relatively recent medical malpractice lawsuit details a case where a Pennsylvania infant suffered severe birth injuries that might have been prevented with faster intervention. When the mother arrived at the Magee-Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh to delivery her baby, a physician administered a drug to commence contractions.

Pitocin: a drug commonly used to induce labor

Oxytocin, also sold under the brand name Pitocin, is frequently used to start or continue labor. Pitocin is a hormone that causes the uterus to contract. While the medicine is administered, medical staff members monitor the mother's contractions and the baby's heart rate. The Pennsylvania mother started receiving Pitocin early in the morning to progress the labor. Staff placed a fetal heart rate monitor to track the baby's vital signs. Over several hours, medical staff increased the amount of Pitocin seeking to advance labor. Several nurses, residents and a physician checked on the mother, however no fetal well-being assessment occurred. The mother later received an epidural. After several more hours, the physician noted the baby's decreased heart rate and ordered an emergency cesarean. Unfortunately, the Pitocin went unnoticed until the start of the cesarean. The baby needed resuscitation after delivery. The baby was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), seizures and respiratory distress. The injuries were permanent. HIE is a common cause of cerebral palsy and related disabilities. Hypoxic injuries occur when there is a lack of oxygen and heart problems during delivery. In severe cases, HIE can also cause brain damage. In this case, parents of the baby sued on behalf of their child who suffered harm when the Pitocin was not stopped.

Standard for medical malpractice claims

Medical malpractice is a type of negligence. When the apparent negligence of a medical professional causes a serious injury, the injured party or the person suing on behalf of the injured person must prove:
  • The physician owed the patient a duty of care
  • The duty of care was breached
  • Breach of the duty was the proximate cause of the harm
  • Damages resulted from the harm
In medical malpractice claims, experts often are required to testify on duty, breach and causation. Experts testify whether "the acts of a physician deviated from good and acceptable standards, and that such deviation was the proximate cause of the harm." For cases that reach a jury trial, the medical expert needs to present his or her opinion in a way that people outside of the medical community can understand.

Available remedies

Injuries caused by medical negligence and birth negligence are not always easy to prove. When questions exist over what caused an injury or death at a medical facility, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney who can review the details of your situation and investigate whether a claim exists. Monetary damages may be available to compensate for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, if applicable, and pain and suffering.

Tell us your story

If You Suffered A Medical Injury Call Pribanic & Pribanic

Contact Our Top Rated Medical Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Successful Results
For Our Clients


Accounting Negligence

$103M

A non-jury trial exposed an accounting firm’s role in financial misrepresentation, resulting in a massive verdict.

Product Liability

$21M

A severely injured child was awarded a settlement to ensure lifelong care.

Medical Malpractice

$10M

Medical malpractice case resulting in a significant settlement.

Automobile Accident

$8.5M

Permanent internal injuries from a car accident led to a favorable settlement.

Medical Malpractice

$2.67M

Failure to diagnose and treat a heart attack resulted in heart damage.

Medical Malpractice

$2M

Leg amputation due to post-operative infection.

Medical Malpractice

$1.9M

Excessive steroid use during chemotherapy caused avascular necrosis.

Truck Accident

$1.9M

Settlement for the family of a man killed in a collision with a garbage truck.

Motorcycle Accident

$1.3M

Settlement for a motorcyclist suffering closed-head and nerve injuries.

Automobile Defect

$1.255M

Brain damage from a rear-end collision caused by a truck lacking front brakes.

Medical Malpractice

$1.1M

Orthopedic surgeon negligently lacerated an artery, causing compartment syndrome.

Medical Malpractice

$1M

Failure to diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis, resulting in a heart attack.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$9M

Client suffered a concussion and post-concussion syndrome.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$675K

Injuries from a vehicle accident.

Medical Malpractice

$600K

Mother lost her child due to miscommunication among physicians.

Medical Malpractice

$500K

Settlement for a medical malpractice victim.

Truck Accident

$500K

A favorable settlement after substantial injuries from a snowmobile-truck crash.

Federal Government in Fatal Boating Accident

$435K

Two men drowned due to the lack of warning signs near a dam.

Premises Liability

$375K

Injuries due to premises negligence.

Nursing Home Neglect

300K

Nursing home assault led to settlement.

Nursing Home Neglect

$250K

Nursing home negligence resulted in injury.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$140K

Leg injury sustained in a vehicle crash.

Motor Vehicle Accident

$125K

Client suffered a back injury following a car accident.

Medical Malpractice

Multi-Million

A young man with sickle cell disease suffered organ damage due to delayed transfusion. The case was settled at mediation.

Cerebral Palsy

Multi-Million

A multi-million settlement was achieved during jury selection in this case on behalf of a little girl who suffered from cerebral palsy due to delayed delivery and improper administration of Pitocin.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

The lawsuit claimed Chantix use led a father to commit homicide and suicide. The settlement was among the highest in this multi-district litigation.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

A physician negligently discontinued Coumadin, causing a fatal stroke.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

A $300,000 settlement was reached for a delayed leukemia diagnosis that worsened the prognosis.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

A woman became functionally blind due to delayed retinal detachment diagnosis. The case settled at mediation.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Paraplegia caused by negligently performed laminoplasty.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Death of a teenager due to failure to diagnose hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Failure to diagnose and treat hyponatremia.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Common bile duct injury during gallbladder removal.

Medical Malpractice

Confidential

Death of a child due to hyperkalemia.

 

View Case Results

Tell Us Your Story.

NO FEE$ UNLESS YOU WIN

FREE CONSULTATION (412) 674-5444

 

Pittsburgh Office

513 Court Place,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
P: 412-281-8844
F: 412-281-4740

White Oak Office

1735 Lincoln Way,
White Oak, PA 15131
P: 412-672-5444
F: 412-672-3715

Brookville Office

1 Sylvania Street,
Brookville, PA 15825
P: 814-849-1278
F: 412-672-3715

© 2025 Pribanic & Pribanic All rights reserved. Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Phone: (412)-674-5444