When someone loses their life due to the negligent, reckless, or intentionally dangerous conduct of another, the situation is – by definition – a tragedy for those loved ones who suffer as a result of that loss. Yet, there is a particularly devastating aspect of a situation that results in a loss of life when the victim in question is a child or an expectant mother.
The processes of pregnancy and childbirth are emotionally complex and physically challenging realities. However, they are ordinarily governed by a sense of joy that a new person is going to be contributing to the beautiful mess that is life. Additionally, most expectant mothers are eager to raise their new children or are preparing to make the profound decision to allow them to be adopted.
When the lives of mothers and infants come to an end during what is often some of the most joyful time that anyone on Earth has the ability to experience, there is a profound grief and sense of injustice that accompanies that reality. When these deaths could have been prevented had medical professionals exercised a proper degree of professional care, the situation in question is almost unbearably unjust.
The Maternal Death Rate in the U.S. Hits a New High
According to recent data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women are dying in the U.S. as a result of pregnancy and birth-related complications at a rate that hasn’t been witnessed in this country since 1965. While the maternal death rate in the U.S. has been trending upward for some time, the Covid-19 pandemic complicated care for already vulnerable patients, resulting in a near doubling of fatalities in 2021 compared to 2019.
Notably, although women of all backgrounds have been affected by this unacceptable trend, Black women are now dying at a rate that is 2.6 times higher than White women when maternal complications are at issue. Meanwhile, although infant mortality rates have been dropping, the death rate among Black infants unquestionably spiked during the pandemic years, also according to the CDC.
Not every maternal and infant death is legally actionable because not every tragic loss of this kind results from medical malpractice. However, a truly significant number of maternal and infant deaths do stem from substandard medical care. Under these circumstances, surviving loved ones are empowered to file a wrongful death lawsuit to hold responsible parties accountable.
Connect with a Client-Focused Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney Today for Personalized Legal Guidance
If your family has suffered a devastating loss related to pregnancy or childbirth, you do not need to navigate the legal and financial aftermath of your situation alone. The compassionate team of medical malpractice attorneys at Anesi Ozmon, LTD. can speak with you about your circumstances and advise you of your rights and options under the law.
Pursuing legal justice in the wake of such an unimaginable loss can help to ensure that your family isn’t burdened by the financial consequences of a medical provider’s negligence. Making this effort may also help you to process your experience in necessary ways. Finally, holding a negligent provider to account may help to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss. To learn more about what taking legal action would entail, call today. We look forward to hearing your family’s story.