Medication Errors During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a delicate medical condition during which both the health of the mother and the unborn child must be carefully monitored. One of the most preventable yet devastating causes of harm during pregnancy is the improper use of medication. Medication errors during pregnancy can result in serious injury to the fetus, complications during delivery, or long-term developmental challenges, and medical professionals who make such mistakes should be held accountable. If your child suffered injuries because of medication errors during pregnancy, you have the right to seek compensation, and you should consult an attorney. The seasoned medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, LLP, Birth Injury Lawyers, understand how to evaluate the medical and legal issues involved in birth injury cases, and if you hire us, we will fight to help you seek justice for your family. We regularly represent individuals and families throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York.

Medication errors during pregnancy can occur at any point in the course of prenatal care. Some mistakes involve prescribing drugs known to carry fetal risks, such as certain blood pressure medications, anti-seizure drugs, antibiotics, or antidepressants. Others involve giving a drug at an incorrect dosage or failing to monitor for adverse reactions. Errors may also occur when healthcare providers overlook harmful drug interactions, fail to adjust medication for gestational changes in metabolism, or neglect to discontinue medications contraindicated in pregnancy. Pharmacists may also contribute to harm by dispensing the wrong drug or mislabeling a prescription.

The consequences of these errors can be devastating. Depending on the timing and nature of the medication involved, the unborn child may suffer from birth defects, brain damage, developmental delays, or other permanent injuries. For example, exposure to teratogenic drugs during the first trimester can interfere with the formation of critical organs, while medication errors later in pregnancy may affect neurological development or cause dangerous complications during labor and delivery. The mother may also experience health crises due to inappropriate medication, including hypertension, hemorrhage, or toxic reactions.

Families impacted by medication errors during pregnancy may be entitled to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim. In most instances, a plaintiff in a birth injury case will allege the defendant was negligent. Under New York law, to demonstrate negligence, a plaintiff has to show that the defendant owed them a duty. In the context of medical care, the duty a provider owes a patient is to offer treatment that comports with the standard of care, which is what is considered the good and accepted practice of medicine in the relevant community. The plaintiff then must show that the defendant breached the duty owed by departing from the standard of care. This might include prescribing a drug that is contraindicated in pregnancy without justification, failing to recognize a known allergy or interaction, or neglecting to follow up on side effects reported by the patient.

Once a breach is established, the next step is to prove causation. In other words, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the breach of duty directly caused injury to the child. This often requires expert testimony from obstetricians, pharmacologists, or neonatologists who can explain how the medication error departed from standard medical practice and how it resulted in harm.

Damages in these cases may include both economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages can consist of medical expenses associated with the injury, the cost of long-term care or therapy, lost earnings, and future medical needs. Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, and, in some cases, loss of the child’s future earning capacity.

Healthcare providers are expected to exercise great care in prescribing and managing medications during pregnancy. When that care falls short and a child suffers as a result, families are entitled to seek justice. If your child was harmed due to medication errors during pregnancy, it is important to understand that you may have legal options, and you should contact an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, LLP Birth Injury Lawyers, our dedicated Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are committed to helping families pursue accountability, and if we represent you, we will help you seek the financial recovery you need to move forward. We have an office in Syracuse, and we regularly represent clients in Syracuse, Rochester, and throughout Upstate New York. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.