Failing to Properly Utilize Apgar Scoring in Oregon

When a baby is born, they are assessed by the physician, nurse and other healthcare providers to ensure they are healthy. One tool that is used shortly after birth is Apgar scoring. Apgar scoring is a tool used to assess the baby’s overall appearance at birth (color, movement, breathing, etc.). If the score is low, it can be indicative that something is wrong with the baby and intervention is required. While this useful tool can be helpful in identifying if a baby needs additional care, there are times when providers improperly utilize the tool, failing to identify a baby in distress. When this occurs, this is considered to be negligence and result in birth injuries. 

 

How is Apgar Scoring Assessed? 

 

This helpful tool first started to be utilized in 1953 after being published by Virginia Apgar. Apgar specifically stands for appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration. The tool as mentioned above is utilized to assess overall health of the newborn. It is conducted immediately after birth and five minutes after birth. If there is concern, a third test will be conducted ten minutes after birth. 

 

Scores for each category range from a 0-2. 2 is the best score possible, with 0 being the worst. If the score is 7 or above, it indicates that the baby is healthy. If it is below 7, it indicates that the baby may require intervention to further assess their health and perhaps stabilize their condition. 

 

Categories include the following:

 

• Appearance – if the skin tone is pink, it is rated a 2, while very pale or blue skin may be rated a 0 or 1
• Pulse – if the pulse is normal, the baby is given a score of 2, while a low pulse will be given a lower score. Normal pulse for an infant is above 100
• Grimace – How the baby responds to stimulation is rated. If they fail to respond or minimally respond, they will receive a lower score
• Activity – The baby is assessed for spontaneous and active movements
• Respiration – Respiratory effort is assessed, as well as the strength of the cry

 

Causes of Low Apgar Scores

 

There are many causes for low Apgar scores. These include the following:

 

• Fluid in the babies lungs
• The baby is born prematurely
• The baby had a c-section delivery
• Fetal monitoring errors
• C-section errors
• Baby is born to a mother who experienced a high risk pregnancy
• Prolonged or arrested labor

 

Apgar Scoring and Medical Malpractice

 

This useful tool is sometimes improperly used, leading to delay in care for infants who truly need assistance. Additionally, to note that Apgar scoring is an important part of medical malpractice claims as a low Apgar score can be indicative of medical malpractice if the baby suffered a birth injury. Examples of medical malpractice in relation to the use of Apgar include the following:

 

• Identifying a baby with a low Apgar score, but failing to intervene or perform the third Apgar assessment ten minutes after birth
• Rating the newborn with a higher score when they truly should have received a lower score, leading to the baby not getting the medical care they truly need
• Failing to perform Apgar scoring entirely

 

Ask Our Birth Injury Lawyer For Help if Apgar Scoring Was Improperly Utilized for Your Child

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.