A new study conducted at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles indicates that pregnancy significantly raises a women’s risk for a heart attack. The study will be published in the July 15 edition of the Journal for the American College of Cardiology.

The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Uri Elkayam, indicated that many physicians delay or miss a heart attack diagnosis in young women. This leads to fatality in most cases. Medical malpractice attorneys may be able to hold physicians responsible for fatalities that result from misdiagnosis.

The study focused on 103 women who suffered heart attacks during their pregnancy. During their research, they discovered that pregnancy can double or triple the risk of a heart attack. From the statistics gathered, they discerned that women who suffered from a heart attack within 24 hours of giving birth were most likely to die.

Of the 103 women studied, 72 percent were over the age of 30, which indicates that older pregnant women are at a higher risk for a heart attack.

It is very important for pregnant women to be monitored by a qualified physician. Women who are not monitored properly during pregnancy may develop serious complications, which can ultimately result in birth injuries or fatality. Birth injury attorneys may be able to seek justice against negligent physicians who are responsible for life-long disabilities or fatality.

A jury in New York awarded $19.6 million to a family who filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against a hospital and medical staff. The jury found the hospital liable for birth trauma which resulted in injuries to the baby and the mother.

The lawsuit claimed that the child was born with cerebral palsy after suffering brain damage during birth. The baby suffered from head trauma and was deprived of oxygen during the delivery. During attempts to resuscitate the infant, a breathing tube was mistakenly inserted into the esophagus of the infant, resulting in further trauma.

The mother suffered a severe birth canal laceration that was not properly repaired by the attending physician, resulting in permanent damage.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in which medical staff did not provide a reasonable level of care, resulting in severe injuries from medical negligence.