Obstetrician in Portugal Suspended in Failure to Diagnose Case
As reported on bbcnews.com, medical council officials unanimously voted to suspend a Portuguese obstetrician for six months after a baby was born in his care without a nose, eyes or part of his skull. Dr. Artur Carvalho is being accused of negligence for a failure to diagnose and notify the parents of baby Rodrigo about their son’s severe physical abnormalities despite the three ultrasound scans performed during her pregnancy under his care. Making matters worse, the mother had a fourth, more detailed ultrasound at a different clinic when she was six months into the pregnancy and was told that there could be abnormalities. When she brought up the risk to Dr. Carvalho, he allegedly dismissed the concerns. When the baby was born with the obvious disfigurements, his parents were told that he would only live a few hours but he is still alive and in hospital care after a few weeks.
In light of this allegation, at least six other medical complaints about this OBGYN involving a failure to detect health issues in other babies have been brought to light. Many Portuguese citizens are outraged as its been revealed that several criminal complaints brought by these parents against Dr. Carvalho were dismissed. Questions are being asked about the country’s procedures for complaints against health professionals. While Dr. Carvalho has not publicly commented on any of the complaints made against him, he has agreed to stop performing procedures while he is under investigation according to Miguel Guimarães, president of Portugal’s medical association (Ordem dos Médicos).
What is failure to diagnose in a birth injury case?
According to birthinjuryguide.org, failure to diagnose has happened when a healthcare provider failed to properly detect and diagnose an illness or condition that could have otherwise been treated. In some cases, the healthcare provider misses the condition entirely and in others the condition is misdiagnosed. Failure to diagnose a health condition can lead to severe long-term injuries, sometimes even death.
When a patient’s OBGYN fails to diagnose a health condition during a pregnancy that directly leads to birth injuries to the mother or infant, there may be an option to bring a medical malpractice claim to recover damages. Damages range from pain and suffering and mental anguish to funeral expenses, medical bills and more.
Common reasons for failure to diagnose during a pregnancy:
- Failure to identify fetal distress
- Failure to detect/monitor infections in the mother
- Failure to detect/monitor/treat gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
- Failure to review the mother’s medical history
- Failure to conduct a thorough medical exam
- Failure to order appropriate tests or screenings
Seek the help of a birth injury lawyer
If you or your infant sustained a birth injury because of medical negligence or you lost a loved one due to a preventable medical error during birth, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced birth injury attorney fight for justice on your behalf. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a medical negligence lawyer. Call the most experienced practicing medical malpractice attorneys Bellingham has at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing people injured by medical negligence in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
