Call or email us. It’s completely confidential.
Speak to a lawyer about your situation for free.
We give you advice and/or a lawyer referral.
Pitocin and Medical Malpractice
We are experienced Illinois attorneys who can offer free guidance or referrals to the best medical malpractice attorney for your case. Contact us at 312-346-5320 for a FREE consultation with a lawyer.
When labor doesn’t start on its own or progresses too slowly, doctors sometimes use a drug called Pitocin to help things along. Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, a hormone the body naturally makes to cause contractions during labor. Doctors may choose to use Pitocin when a pregnancy goes past the due date, if the water has broken but labor hasn’t started, or if there are health concerns that make it safer for the baby to be delivered sooner. While Pitocin can be effective, it also carries serious risks when not carefully monitored.
Pitocin can cause contractions to become much stronger, longer, and closer together than natural labor. If the baby’s heart rate drops or shows signs of distress, it may be a sign that the contractions are too intense. In some cases, emergency interventions like a C-section are needed to protect the baby. If the medical staff does not respond quickly and correctly to the situation, the consequences can be devastating. Oxygen may be cut off to the distressed baby, leading to problems like brain damage (for example, HIE and PVL), cerebral palsy, or even stillbirth.
For mothers, Pitocin can also lead to serious complications if it’s not used and/or monitored correctly. Stronger contractions can cause the uterus to rupture, especially in women who have had a prior C-section. Excessive bleeding, low blood pressure, and water intoxication (i.e., fluid overload) are also potential risks. All these issues can lead to potential stroke, brain injuries, and even death.
What Clients Are Saying
"Truly cared"
Thank you so much. I really feel like you cared about my situation and did whatever you could to help.
"Extremely quick"
Extremely quick response. Even on a Sunday morning. I appreciate the expert advice and care that I received.
Doctors and nurses have a duty to monitor both the baby and mother closely during induced labor. If they fail to recognize signs of distress or misuse Pitocin, it can lead to a lawsuit. Fetal monitoring strips will usually tell a story of what happened. While Pitocin is safe when used correctly, mistakes do happen and sometimes they have catastrophic results.
We help people find the best birth injury attorney for their case. There’s never a fee unless the case is successful. We are lawyers and would only suggest attorneys to you that we would refer family members or friends to. To speak with an attorney about a potential medical malpractice case, contact us at 312-346-5320. We help everywhere in Illinois.