Doctors accused of negligence in baby's wrongful death

The birth of a baby should be a joyful time. However, it turned into a nightmare for one couple who recently filed a lawsuit against two doctors and the medical group they work for.

In February 2011, the couple was told their baby would have to be delivered by cesarean section because of its large abdomen. However, in March of that year, a doctor refused to perform a C-section when the woman went into labor. Further, the doctor would not let the couple go to another hospital. With no other options, the mother agreed to a vaginal birth.

During the delivery, however, the baby's body became trapped in the birth canal. As the doctor attempted to pull the baby out, he separated the baby's head from its body. According to the lawsuit, the doctor tried to push the baby's head and body back into the mother. The doctor ordered a C-section. However, he began the procedure before the mother was completely anesthetized.

The couple filed a lawsuit late last month. They claim the doctors were negligent in their care and caused the baby's wrongful death.

A story like this is very alarming. Instead of welcoming their new child into the world as they had planned, the couple in this story was forced to make funeral arrangements.

Whether you live in New York City or elsewhere, people expect that doctors will do all that they can to prevent patient harm. When they fail to do that they should be held responsible.

Source: New York Daily News, "Missouri couple sues doctors for separating baby's head during grisly botched birth, and trying to cover it up: reports," Philip Caulfield, Oct. 12, 2012

Our firm handles cases like the one discussed in this story. To learn more, please visit our New York City birth injury page.