Insufficient Staffing Closes Maternity Services A November 28, 2017 memo from Airport Way Medical Clinic announced the permanent discontinuation of Maternity Services in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. The memo stated the reason being is that there is simply not enough staffing support to ensure safe obstetric care. Expecting mothers of Fort Nelson are now unable […]
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Lucas Warren – The New Face of Gerber
2018 Gerber Baby Search With thousands of hopeful parents and babies seeking to be featured in Gerber ads each year, the Gerber Photo Search contest has captivated the nation every year since its 2010 conception. The 2017 search proved no different as parents submitted over 140,000 photos of their smiling babies, with the hope that […]
Risks of Uterine Contraction Patterns
Main Takeaways: Uterine contractions can compress the blood vessels in the uterus, potentially interfering in the transfer of oxygen to the placenta and the baby. In a normal labor, one contraction every two to three minutes or less than five contractions in a 10 minute period is ideal. A uterus must rest between contractions, having […]
Proving Causation in Medical Malpractice Cases
In order to succeed in a medical malpractice case, the patient must prove, on the balance of probabilities, the following: That the medical practitioner in question (physician, nurse, midwife etc.) owed the plaintiff a duty of care (usually not an issue), A breach of the standard of care required of any reasonably competent practitioner of […]
The Importance of Ultrasound in Pregnancy
Main Takeaways: An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of a developing baby, the mother’s placenta, and uterus, usually during the second trimester. An ultrasound can provide very important diagnostic information about a developing baby, including confirming the pregnancy and gestational age; checking for multiple pregnancies, congenital anomalies, and/or problems with the […]
Contingency Fees – Access To Justice In Birth Injury Cases
High Costs of Litigation As Canadians, we do not pay medical fees directly. Instead, the physicians who treat us are paid by provincial medical insurance plans which are funded by our tax dollars. This of course is not the case for lawyers. Unless we qualify for provincially funded legal aid, which is limited to criminal […]
Fetal Size, Percentile and Growth During Pregnancy
Main Takeaways: In certain pregnancies, such as premature or preterm babies, the size and growth of the fetus matters. Obstetricians use their experience, the fundal height of the mother, and an ultrasound to determine the fetal size. A term pregnancy of at least 37 weeks or more has an average weight of 6 pounds 6 […]
Pain and Suffering in Birth Injury Claims
Capped But Still Significant in Canada One of the most common pain and suffering damages questions we are asked is “what is my case worth?” The amount of damages available to a birth injury plaintiff depends on: the amount of the cost of care, which is determined by a cost of care expert during the […]
Scalp Electrode for Fetal Heart Monitoring
Main Takeaways: A scalp electrode is applied to a fetus’ scalp which monitors the baby’s heart, similar to an ECG A scalp electrode monitors a fetus’ heart rate more accurately than an external monitoring method for a variety of reasons. Internal methods of heart monitoring are only of use after membranes have ruptured and when […]
Biophysical Profiles
Biophysical profiles are a form of test used to assess fetal well-being, usually performed during the third trimester. This test was developed by Dr. Frank Manning, an obstetrician who practiced in Winnipeg before moving to New York. It has been in use for approximately 30 years and is a relatively simple, risk-free procedure that can […]
Patterns of Brain Injury in Babies with HIE – The “Watershed” Injury
The pattern and distribution of brain injury provide important information which, in combination with the labour and delivery records, allows us to work backward to figure out how and when a baby was injured. Importantly, it also helps to predict what parents can expect for their child’s recovery and quality of life. These injuries are […]
Fetal Non-Stress Tests
Fetal non-stress tests are used in pregnancy to passively monitor the baby’s heart rate, which tells health care practitioners about the health of the baby. What A Non-Stress Test Tells You About Your Baby’s Health The number of beats per minute and the pattern of the baby’s heart rate can actually tell a health care […]
Life Expectancy in Birth Trauma Claims: How Experts Predict the Future
Our life span is how long each of us actually lives — our life expectancy, on the other hand, is how many more years we can we can expect to live. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a crystal ball that will allow us to determine exactly how long we are going to live. However, […]
Identifying The Fetus At Risk for Neurologic Injury
Neurologic injury, and cerebral palsy, in particular, can be a devastating result of poor care during labour and delivery. However, some babies are vulnerable to injury before labour begins. This may be a result of a problem with the mother’s health, the baby’s health or the environment in which the fetus develops. Where these conditions […]
What Are the Stages of Labour?
What are the Stages of Labour? The experience of childbirth is one that is both unique and commonplace. Emotionally and physically, women can have very different experiences. For example, the amount of time involved in each step is different for each woman and for each pregnancy. However, for women who undergo a normal vaginal delivery, […]
