What Are C-Section Errors?

During a C-section procedure, the doctor will make two incisions on the mother’s abdomen and uterus. This allows the doctor to remove the child from the uterus and bypass the need for a vaginal birth. Although a C-section is not considered to be a high-risk procedure, it is still a major abdominal surgery that requires a great deal of training, care, and precision to successfully complete. Because many doctors become accustomed to performing this procedure, however, it may become easier for them to overlook warning signs with time.

C-sections can also be “elective” or unplanned. For example, if the mother is overweight and prone to high blood pressure, the OB-GYN may recommend an elective C-section and plan to avoid conventional labor altogether. But whether the C-section is planned or unplanned, complications can still arise if the doctor is not careful.

Some of the most common C-section errors linked to negligence:

• Failing to perform a C-section for delayed or prolonged labor
• Performing a C-section for efficiency’s sake and exposing the mother/baby to unnecessary risks
• Lacerating other organs during a C-section
• Failing to address infection and inflammation after a C-section
• Using contaminated or defective medical tools
• Infant surgical injuries
• Hemorrhage and excessive bleeding