Stillborn Birth Attorneys in Albuquerque

Fighting Tirelessly for Devastated Families

If your family has suffered a stillbirth that is linked to medical negligence, know that our trauma-informed attorneys of James Wood Law can help you seek justice through legal action. Our firm is dedicated to helping grieving families navigate the liability laws in New Mexico that often complicate medical malpractice and wrongful death claims, such as those involving a stillbirth. With extensive experience in handling these sensitive cases, we approach each one with empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to uncovering the truth. Our goal is to hold negligent parties responsible and provide some solace to your family.

How Can Medical Malpractice Cause Stillbirths?

The loss of a child is an indescribable heartbreak, made even worse when it could have been prevented. Medical providers have a responsibility to uphold an acceptable standard of care that prioritizes the patient’s health, including the health of a pregnant mother and her unborn child. Tragically, when this standard is not met, preventable risks can go unaddressed, directly contributing to a stillborn birth.

Medical malpractice can contribute to stillbirth risks through:

• Failure to monitor fetal health: Monitoring fetal health is essential to detect signs of distress, such as irregular heart rates or decreased movement. Neglecting to run necessary tests or report abnormalities can result in delayed intervention, putting the baby’s life at risk.
• Mismanagement of maternal health conditions: Conditions like gestational diabetes, hypertension, or infections require careful management to avoid complications. Medical negligence, such as improper medication, missed diagnoses, or lack of monitoring, can create dangers for the baby.
• Delayed responses to pregnancy complications: Timely action is critical when complications such as placenta abruption, preeclampsia, or preterm labor arise. Delays in recognizing and addressing these emergencies can lead to catastrophic results for the child.
• Medication errors: Medications prescribed during pregnancy must account for the unique needs of both the mother and fetus. Incorrect dosages, overlooked interactions, or unsafe drugs can harm fetal development and contribute to stillbirth.
• Failure to address umbilical cord issues: Umbilical cord problems, such as knots or prolapse, can severely restrict a baby’s oxygen supply. If healthcare providers fail to detect and treat these complications promptly, the baby may suffer fatal oxygen deprivation.
• Failure to monitor fetus during labor and delivery: Undetected fetal distress can go unnoticed if the mother’s heart rate is being inadvertently monitored instead of the baby’s. This failure can lead to a stillborn at delivery. 

Deviations from the accepted medical standard of care form the basis of malpractice claims. This standard requires that healthcare providers act in a way consistent with what a competent and reasonable medical professional would do under similar circumstances. When healthcare providers fail to meet this expectation, they put lives at risk, and they could open the door for a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit.

Holding Liable Parties Account for Stillbirth Tragedies

Identifying who is responsible for a tragedy like a stillborn birth caused by medical malpractice is something that you should leave up to our Albuquerque stillbirth lawsuit attorneys. We know where to look for evidence of wrongdoing and negligence, even when that information is buried in medical jargon and technical speak. Depending on what we uncover, several parties involved in prenatal care, delivery, or medical procedures could be held accountable if their actions or inactions contributed to the loss. 

Types of liable parties for your stillbirth lawsuit could include:

• Doctors and obstetricians: Physicians have a duty to monitor both the mother’s and baby's health throughout pregnancy and delivery. Errors such as misdiagnosing conditions, failing to respond to complications, or poor decision-making during labor can result in preventable harm.
• Nurses and midwives: A nurse or midwife who fails to observe unsafe symptoms or mishandles labor support could be partially liable for a stillbirth.
• Hospital staff and administrators: Hospitals are responsible for maintaining safe facilities and ensuring their staff is adequately trained. Institutional policies or negligence, such as understaffing or failing to equip delivery rooms with necessary tools, may create grounds for liability.
• Ultrasound and testing technicians: Failure to properly conduct or interpret fetal monitoring tests, ultrasounds, or other diagnostics could cause delays in identifying and treating risks to the child’s health.
• Pharmaceutical companies: If medications prescribed during pregnancy were improperly tested or came with inadequate warnings, pharmaceutical manufacturers could be held accountable for contributing to stillbirths.
• Medical equipment manufacturers: Defects in medical devices, such as fetal monitors, can lead to inaccurate readings or failures to detect distress, which may jeopardize the baby’s health.

New Mexico Statute of Limitations

For most medical malpractice and infant wrongful death cases, including those involving stillbirths caused by negligence, New Mexico law imposes a three-year statute of limitations. This deadline typically begins on the date of the stillbirth, meaning families must file their claim within this time frame to preserve their legal rights.

Missing the statute of limitations can prevent you from pursuing justice or compensation, regardless of how clear the negligence may seem. Filing a claim as early as possible also provides our legal team with more time needed to gather evidence, consult experts, and prepare a compelling case on your behalf, so please talk to us today about what happened. We’re ready to listen.

Take the First Step Toward Justice – Call Now

The loss of a stillborn child is an unimaginable tragedy, and no family should have to endure such pain, especially when it’s the result of medical negligence. At James Wood Law, we are here to help you through this difficult time with the care and understanding you deserve. Our team of stillborn birth attorneys in Albuquerque is committed to holding negligent parties accountable and seeking justice for your loss, allowing you to focus on what truly matters to your family. We can guide you through every step of the process, so your voice is heard.

You can contact us for a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation to proceed, just an opportunity to discuss your legal options in a supportive and compassionate environment. Call (888) 579-3866 now.