Failure to Address Rh Negative-Positive Blood Type Incompatibility March 6, 2013.
Why a Doctor Should Test for Incompatible Blood Types During Pregnancy
Part of good prenatal care is testing for Rh incompatibility, a condition in which the mother has Rh negative blood and the baby has Rh positive blood. This is an increased risk during second or subsequent pregnancies and could lead to hemolytic anemia, which deprives the baby of oxygen. With proper screening and prompt treatment, health problems can be addressed.
Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim for Improper Prenatal Care
A successful medical malpractice claim will prove the healthcare provider’s negligence caused an injury. One way to do this is by showing that Rh incompatibility wasn’t properly diagnosed or addressed. A doctor’s failure to conduct blood tests or follow-up tests to check for complications illustrates poor prenatal care. If the condition was diagnosed but proper treatment, such as injecting the mother with Rh immune globulin or giving the unborn baby a blood transfusion if necessary, wasn’t administered, this, too, shows negligence.
Blood incompatibility during pregnancy is a serious health risk, but complications are usually preventable when a doctor provides appropriate prenatal care. If Rh negative-positive blood type incompatibility was not addressed during your pregnancy, contact birth injury lawyerChris Mellino for a free consultation.