On November 25, Michal Friedman, 44, gave birth to her children, Reverie and Jackson, at NYU Langone Medical Center. She had tried unsuccessfully to give birth for seven years. Finally, she made it to pregnancy, and was designated a "high risk patient" at NYU's Maternal Fetal Care Center because of her age, fertility treatments, and pregnancy-related high-blood pressure. The pregnancy, however, was a smooth nine months.
Even the delivery was fine. Friedman received a Caesarean section and delivered her twin babies at 5pm. Her husband was sent to the nursery while she was taken to the recovery room. She was pronounced dead at 9:33pm.
Just a week ago, the medical examiner reported that Friedman died of a post-partum hemorrage after her delivery and bled to death.
This weekend, Jay Snyder simultaneously celebrated the 3-month birthday of his twin children and mourned the 3-month anniversary of his wife's passing.
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
A post-partum hemorrhage is bleeding that occurs after the delivery. Immediately after the baby is delivered the uterus is supposed to contract and control any bleeding by itself. It clamps down and shuts off any major bleeding. At least that's what is supposed to happen. Sometimes the uterus fails to contract after the delivery. In that case the uterus is actually massaged by hand. That often triggers the automatic response needed to clamp down the uterus.
In some cases, massaging the uterus fails to stimulate the contraction needed. Medication can be given that will try and trigger the contraction that should be occurring within the uterus. If the uterus still cannot contract and stem the bleeding there are other ways to control bleeding. At this point a decision will be made about whether to surgically operate. There may be an immediate need to perform a hysterectomy in order to save mom's life.
In some cases the major uterine vessels will be clamped off in order to save mom's life.
Excessive post-partum hemorrhage can be a life and death situation. Doctors often have little time to decide which option to choose and the choices are usually irreversible.
As tragic and as unfortunate as this story is, the reality is that even with prompt recognition of a significant post-partum hemorrhage and appropriate blood-loss control, there is still the possibility that these efforts will not work and death can occur.
In order to properly determine whether the appropriate action was taken you need to have your matter evaluated. As a practicing medical malpractice and wrongful death attorney in New York, I deal with medical tragedies like this every day. If you have experienced related problems, I want you to pick up the phone and call me. I can help.
MORE INFORMATION:
If you would like more information about how medical malpractice and accident cases work in the state of New York, I encourage you to explore my educational website. If you have legal questions, I encourage you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at [email protected] to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.
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