San Francisco, CA medical malpractice attorney Jeff Mitchell discusses his approach to handling birth injury cases. In cases related to birth injuries, there are distinct categories to consider. One category, commonly referred to as “strip cases,” revolves around issues concerning the interpretation of fetal heart tracings. However, there are also cases where signs and symptoms of other problems may not be evident on the fetal heart tracings.

In birth injury cases, the key determination is whether it falls into the “strip case” category. This often hinges on whether any problems were identified in the fetal heart tracings and whether the healthcare professionals, including nurses and monitor observers, recognized any evidence of fetal distress. If such evidence was observed, the crucial follow-up question is whether they appropriately and promptly notified a physician.

It’s important to note that in some instances, nurses may correctly and promptly identify issues in the tracings and promptly involve a physician. However, challenges may arise if the physician’s response is delayed or if their medical judgment in addressing the situation is suboptimal.

Birth injury cases are complex, with multiple variables and factors at play, making the evaluation and handling of such cases multifaceted.