Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

"Recent reports suggest that cesarean section rates are on the rise because women are asking for surgery, as opposed to delivering vaginally. This appears incorrect," said Syracuse birth injury lawyer Anthony S. Bottar, of Bottar Leone, PLLC, a law firm with decades of experience handling birth injury lawsuits throughout he state of New York, including those concerning fetal brain damage due to a delayed c-section.

According to Reuters Health, a recent study of nearly 20,000 women around the world revealed that c-section rates are rising even though women are not asking for abdominal deliveries. Only sixteen percent (16%) of the women in the study indicated that they would prefer a cesarean section to vaginal delivery. This means than roughly 84% of pregnant mothers prefer vaginal delivery. Among women who had a c-section previously, approximately twenty-nine percent (29%) said that they would like their next delivery to be by cesarean section. Seventy-one percent (71%) said that they wanted a vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC).

According to a study discussed in our blog post titled "Study Will Make Central New York VBACs More Available Despite Risk of Uterine Rupture and Baby Brain Damage," a vaginal birth after cesarean section may not be as dangerous as doctor's once believed. "We disagree,, especially if labor is augmented" Syracuse VBAC lawyer Michael A. Bottar said. "We have clients who experienced uterine rupture during a trial of labor encouraged by an obstetrician or midwife. VBAC is not right for everyone."

Continue reading "Cesarean Sections Rise In New York Even Though Women Are Not Requesting Surgery" »

On August 23, 2010, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced in Committee Opinion #465 that all pregnant women should receive antibiotics one (1) hour before having a cesarean delivery.

"Certainly, the antibiotics will cut down on the number of post-operative wound infections," said Syracuse birth injury lawyer Michael A. Bottar, Esq., an attorney with Bottar Leone, PLLC, a law firm prosecuting New York obstetrical malpractice lawsuits. "At the same time, we are concerned that unborn babies experiencing fetal distress may suffer a brain injury due to a delayed c-section. Setting aside the risk of infection, if a baby is experiencing oxygen deprivation, known as hypoxia, we would like to see an abdominal or vaginal delivery occur as soon as possible because prolonged hypoxia can cause cerebral palsy and other permanent brain damage."

Infection is a well-documented complication of a cesarean delivery, occurring in 10-40% cases. Historically, antibiotics were administered to women having a c-section, but not until after the baby was born. This was because physicians were concerned about antibiotics passing into baby's bloodstream.

Continue reading "Antibiotics One Hour Before Cesarean Section Now Standard Of Care In New York To Prevent Infection" »