Failure to Manage Maternal Hemorrhage: Legal and Medical Implications
What Is Maternal Hemorrhage?
Maternal hemorrhage refers to excessive blood loss during or after childbirth. It is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, and in the United States, it's often a preventable medical emergency. While some bleeding is expected during delivery, a hemorrhage becomes dangerous when:
Blood loss exceeds 500 mL after a vaginal delivery
Blood loss exceeds 1,000 mL after a cesarean section
The patient shows signs of hemodynamic instability, such as a rapid drop in blood pressure, elevated heart rate, or confusion
What Happens When It’s Not Properly Managed?
When labor and delivery teams fail to recognize or respond to maternal hemorrhage, the consequences are often catastrophic:
Emergency hysterectomy
Organ failure
Hypovolemic shock
Death
In many cases, early intervention with uterotonics, blood transfusions, and surgical procedures could have prevented these outcomes. But too often, warning signs are missed, downplayed, or poorly documented.
🚩 Signs Commonly Missed in OB Malpractice Cases
| Missed Indicator | Legal Relevance |
|---|---|
| Sudden drop in maternal blood pressure | Evidence of internal bleeding or unmanaged hemorrhage |
| Failure to perform timely fundal checks | Indicates substandard postpartum care |
| Delay in administering blood products | Can support claims of deviation from standard of care |
| Incomplete documentation of bleeding events | Weakens the provider’s defense |
| Ignoring patient complaints of dizziness, faintness, or severe pain | Shows disregard for patient safety |
How Attorneys Can Build Stronger Cases
To successfully litigate these complex cases, attorneys must clearly demonstrate how the provider deviated from established OB protocols and how those deviations directly caused harm.
That’s where Lexcura Summit comes in.
Lexcura Summit: Your Partner in OB Malpractice Litigation
Our team of over 200 board-certified clinicians, including OB nurses and maternal-fetal medicine experts, provides:
✅ Medical Chronologies – Time-stamped timelines showing delays in recognition or treatment
✅ Narrative Summaries – Expert-written explanations of clinical failings and negligence
✅ Life Care Plans – When a hysterectomy or long-term complications result from mismanagement
✅ Special Reports & Rebuttals – For both plaintiff and defense attorneys
✅ Fast Turnaround – 7-day standard delivery; 2–3-day rush available
We support cases nationwide, ensuring every report is HIPAA-compliant and litigation-ready.
Contact Lexcura Summit
If you're working on a maternal injury, wrongful death, or postpartum negligence case, let our team help you build a strong, evidence-based claim.
📍 www.lexcura-summit.com
📞 (352) 703‑0703 | Trusted by firms nationwide
