OB-GYN Malpractice Lawyer in Massachusetts

OB-GYN malpractice can affect mothers, newborns, and families for a lifetime. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey pursues full accountability for Massachusetts patients harmed by obstetrical and gynecological negligence. Free consultation. No fees unless we win.

OB-GYN Malpractice in Massachusetts

Obstetricians and gynecologists are specialists whose scope of practice encompasses the full range of women's reproductive health: prenatal care and delivery, gynecological evaluation and surgery, and management of conditions specific to women's reproductive systems. When an OB-GYN departs from the standard of care in any of these areas and causes harm to a patient, a medical malpractice claim may arise. OB-GYN malpractice cases are among the most serious in any medical specialty because they frequently affect mothers, newborns, and entire families. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey represents OB-GYN malpractice victims throughout Massachusetts.

Labor and Delivery Malpractice

Labor and delivery malpractice encompasses a range of failures during the process of childbirth: failure to recognize and respond to fetal distress on electronic fetal monitoring, delayed decision for cesarean section when vaginal delivery is creating dangerous conditions for the baby or mother, improper use of forceps or vacuum during assisted delivery, excessive traction during shoulder dystocia management, failure to manage maternal hemorrhage appropriately, and failure to recognize uterine rupture. These failures can cause birth injuries to newborns and serious maternal harm including permanent disability.

Gynecological Surgery Malpractice

Gynecological surgery, hysterectomy, myomectomy, laparoscopic procedures for endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal procedures, and ovarian surgery, carries risks of injury to adjacent structures including the bladder, ureter, bowel, and major blood vessels. When injuries to these structures result from departures from the surgical standard of care, and when those injuries cause lasting harm, a malpractice claim may arise. Attorney Lavey evaluates gynecological surgical injury cases with expert obstetrics and gynecology review.

Failure to Diagnose OB-GYN Conditions

OB-GYN malpractice also encompasses failures to diagnose conditions specific to the reproductive system: missed ectopic pregnancy that results in tubal rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage; failure to diagnose ovarian cancer at an early, more treatable stage; failure to follow up on abnormal Pap smear results that allow cervical cancer to progress; and failure to identify gestational diabetes that leads to macrosomia and delivery complications. Each of these diagnostic failures has specific standards against which the physician’s conduct is measured.

Pursuing an OB-GYN Malpractice Claim

OB-GYN malpractice cases require expert testimony from a qualified obstetrician or gynecologist in the relevant subspecialty. The Certificate of Merit requirement and the applicable statute of limitations apply to OB-GYN claims as they do to all medical malpractice claims, with the extension for claims involving minor children where birth injuries are involved. Attorney Lavey manages the complete expert review and pre-suit process in every OB-GYN malpractice case and pursues every element of available compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I had a surgical complication during a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy is a major gynecological procedure with known risks including injury to the bladder, ureter, and bowel. The malpractice question is whether the specific injury resulted from a departure from the surgical standard of care or from a known risk of the procedure that occurred despite appropriate technique. Expert gynecological surgery review of the operative record addresses this question. Attorney Lavey evaluates hysterectomy complication cases with expert review.

What if my ectopic pregnancy was not diagnosed in time and my tube ruptured?

Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening obstetrical emergency that must be diagnosed and managed promptly. A physician who sees a patient with early pregnancy and does not adequately evaluate for ectopic pregnancy, failing to obtain appropriate blood tests and ultrasound, or failing to follow up on inconclusive results, may be liable for the harm resulting from tubal rupture that earlier diagnosis would have prevented. Attorney Lavey handles ectopic pregnancy missed diagnosis cases throughout Massachusetts.

What if my OB-GYN missed an abnormal Pap smear result?

Abnormal Pap smear results require specific follow-up protocols depending on the nature of the abnormality. A physician who fails to communicate an abnormal result to the patient, fails to schedule the required follow-up colposcopy or biopsy, or fails to maintain a system for tracking and following up on abnormal results may be liable for a delayed cervical cancer diagnosis. Attorney Lavey pursues Pap smear follow-up failure cases as delayed cancer diagnosis malpractice claims.

What damages are available in an OB-GYN malpractice case involving a birth injury?

When OB-GYN malpractice causes a birth injury to a newborn, the damages include all medical and rehabilitative treatment costs, all future care costs projected over the child's lifetime, the impact on earning capacity, and pain and suffering. These are among the largest damages in any malpractice context. A certified life care planner projects lifetime care needs. Attorney Lavey coordinates the full expert team needed for serious birth injury OB-GYN malpractice cases.

Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey — Licensed Massachusetts Attorney

Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and has represented clients throughout Middlesex County and Massachusetts for over 37 years. He handles every case personally, no associates, no handoffs. Call (781) 938-1400 for a free consultation.

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