The field of forensic OB / GYN medicine and surgery together with reproductive endocrinology, gynecological oncology, assisted reproduction, replacement hormone therapy, detection of breast and reproductive tract cancer has been growing for the last 40 years and will continue to expand. Some of the obstetrical and gynecological malpractice areas in which our law firm has achieved success are set forth below.
Failures to diagnose prenatal defects have resulted in the birth of severely handicapped children who require lifelong medical treatment and attendant care. Conversely, mistaken false positive testing has resulted in the voluntary pregnancy termination of perfectly healthy babies. Improperly performed amniocentesis and chorionic villi sampling have resulted in birth defects and fetal death. Lawyers at Aaron Levine & Associates prosecuted the first Fragile X case resulting in a $1 million recovery. Recently our attorneys completed a case involving the failure to perform Level II sonograms at a similar level.
With the advent of IVF (in vitro fertilization), IUI (intrauterine insemination), GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) and surrogacy, our lawyers have been involved in cases concerning these issues and are familiar with the techniques, chemistry and science involved.
Whether administered locally or generally, anesthesia drugs are powerful, and can suppress the heartbeat of a pregnant mother and her baby or impair the contractions of labor. Lack of intubation can block the mother's airway, and can result in brain death. Often monitoring equipment for these procedures is minimal or defective. The attorneys at Aaron Levine & Associates have successfully represented clients who have sustained injury from any aspect of maternal anesthesia and airway control.
Failed tubal ligation, hystroscopic examinations resulting in perforation, incomplete D&C (dilation & curettage), and other uterine perforation are cases in which we fought and won significant compensation. Our lawyers have been involved in cases regarding bladder and colon injury during labor and delivery.
Attorneys from Aaron Levine & Associates have successfully represented women whose breast cancers were allowed to progress because of insufficient or inadequate diagnosis or diagnostic procedures. We have also represented women who have undergone unnecessary mastectomies resulting in the surgical loss of a healthy organ due to incorrect cytological examinations of a healthy breast. We have successfully represented cases of undetected kidney cancer and permanent urethral injury during vaginal fistula, rectal vaginal fistula repair.
Mr. Levine was appointed by the federal judge managing the Dalkon Shield Steering Committee to help lead the litigation. We represented over a thousand women injured by the Dalkon Shield successfully. He was selected by the Consumer Union of the Netherlands to represent all of the Dutch women so injured as well.
Often during labor and delivery improper or excessive medication leads to fetal distress and brain damage of the baby. We have tried jury cases to completion being able to ensure the financial security of the children injured by obstetric error.
Insurance companies and HMOs pressure physicians and hospitals for shorter hospital stays and fewer Caesarian sections. As a result, the number of infants injured during delivery because of shoulder dystocia has greatly increased. Once the shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal, physicians often utilize excessive traction to deliver the infant; this can result in permanent nerve damage to the child's arm. In some cases, the arm is rendered totally useless. Over the years the lawyers at Aaron Levine & Associates have been involved in numerous cases of this nature and have always realized a victory.
Delivery consists of three variables: 1) the passenger, 2) the pressure, and 3) the passageway. Any of these can present an obstacle to vaginal delivery and if labor persists can cause damage or death to the mother and baby. We have successfully prosecuted cases involving breach presentations, post-maturity and failure to progress.