Mother’s Career Ruined after Hospital’s Mistake During Childbirth
Posted on Feb 4, 2014 3:41pm PST
An opera singer and Army wife with the initials A.H. claims that her career has been threatened by damage to her digestive and reproductive systems which occurred when an Army nurse allegedly made a mistake during an operation. A.H. was delivering her son when the nurse at the hospital performed an episiotomy. This is typically done to help a woman deliver the baby or prevent the muscles or skin from tearing. Most often an episiotomy is only performed if the baby is in distress.
The lawsuit claims that the nurse made an incision for an episiotomy during the second stage of the woman's labor without informing the mother or getting her consent. The nurse then reported repairing the surgery site with sutures. During a follow-up visit to the hospital weeks after the baby's birth, a nurse told A.H. that the incision site was not properly repaired. A.H. subsequently suffered embarrassing and life-altering issues. She now experiences fecal urgency, incontinence, periodic leaking and excessive flatulence.
The woman now requires reconstructive surgery to alleviate the results of the injuries, and professionals do not believe that this will fully alleviate her condition. Also, there is a possibility that she would need to submit to multiple surgeries throughout her lifetime to reduce symptoms for an extended amount of time. As well, if the surgery is performed, the woman will need to deliver all future children via a cesarean section which poses an added risk to her career as a singer.
The woman has not been able to return to her job as an opera singer because her conditions make it difficult to work. While the government may argue that the episiotomy was necessary to assist in the birth, medical malpractice attorneys argue that there are other alternatives that the hospital staff never tried.
A.H. formerly worked at the Nashville Opera Company as a mezzo-soprano. She was scheduled to perform as an ensemble member in Madame Butterfly when she discovered her condition. The Army has not yet reviewed the pending legislation, though spokespeople say that the individuals at the hospital deeply care about patient safety and certainly would never wish injury on anyone.
A.H. is suing for $2.5 million for negligence as well as for pain and suffering, embarrassment, and loss of income. She filed in partnership with her husband. Her attorney says that A.H. has suffered a very embarrassing and significant injury and the prognosis of a fully successful repair is significantly low. If she had conceded to the episiotomy, the lawsuit would not be legitimate because she had given her consent.
Because she was never informed of the incision, she has the right to challenge those that performed the surgery without her permission. If you have a medical malpractice lawsuit, don't hesitate to hire a local medical malpractice attorney to assist you in your case. With the right attorney on your side, you will be able to file a legitimate lawsuit and seek assistance in your case! Contact the firm right away to learn more!