Fetal Ultrasound Expert Witnesses
The expertise you need for birth injury and medical malpractice
Fetal ultrasound, more formally known as prenatal ultrasonography, is a diagnostic technique used to determine gestational age, number of fetuses, fetal cardiac activity, and placental location. In addition, many congenital structural anomalies and significant abnormalities in fetal growth can be identified with an ultrasound. Some of the benefits of routine prenatal ultrasound include:
- Estimation of gestational age
- Identification of multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.)
- Identification of congenital anomalies
Obstetric ultrasounds in the United States are usually performed by diagnostic medical sonographers, also known as ultrasound technicians. Sonographers need to hold at least an associate degree and complete a certificate program in diagnostic medical sonography. They can be certified by several organizations, including the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARMDS). Certified ultrasound technicians typically practice under the title of registered diagnostic medical sonographer (R.D.M.S.).
The consequences of ultrasound errors and malpractice can be significant
Fetal ultrasound is a critical diagnostic tool to monitor the fetus's health and prevent birth injuries. Legal cases that involve ultrasound errors are typically birth injury cases. Some examples of ultrasound errors and malpractice include:
- Failure to maintain ultrasound equipment.
- Improperly training technicians.
- Misinterpreting ultrasound results.
- Failure to order further testing to confirm ultrasound results.
- Misdiagnosing fetal abnormalities and health conditions.
- Failure to identify that the fetus is in breech position.
- Failure to communicate ultrasound findings to patients or physicians.
It is often unclear whether an error was made by an ultrasound technician (in performing the procedure), by a doctor such as a radiologist or an obstetrician (in interpreting the results), or both. A fetal ultrasound expert witness from Rieback Medical-Legal Consultants can help attorneys get to the bottom of what happened and whether the standard of care was met at each stage.
You need the right fetal ultrasound expert witness
Birth injury cases have high stakes since the long-term cost of a medical condition like cerebral palsy or epilepsy can be in the tens of millions of dollars. The role of a fetal ultrasound expert witness in birth injury litigation cannot be overstated. If you need an expert in fetal ultrasound for a legal matter, contact us today for a free case summary review.