Texas hospital allows non-specialists to deliver babies

Although it can be painful and unpredictable, most families go through the process of childbirth without obstetrical complications and joyfully receive the new addition to their family. Most childbirths don’t involve complications, and the reason may be because obstetrical specialists are good at monitoring risks and intervening when necessary. When medical providers are not adequately trained in obstetrics serious birth injuries can occur.
Recently a Texas hospital lifted a ban on using non-specialists to deliver babies. The ban at Wise Regional health system in Decatur on using physicians to deliver babies who had not had an obstetrical residency was put into effect in 2009. The requirements were added to update the quality of care standards that its urban affiliate has and to reduce the risk that comes with staff who are not fully trained in obstetrics. But on July 29 the hospital relaxed its requirements they had previously put in place. Family physicians can now deliver babies again at its hospital if they have performed 50 C-section deliveries and 100 vaginal deliveries.
Although many births occur without any difficulties, obstetrical complications can occur when medical professionals are not adequately trained. Birth complications that can occur include brain injury, shoulder dystocia, cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy, among many others. Families who have experienced birth injuries, including those caused by inadequately trained medical professionals, may want to learn more about their legal options. Birth injuries can be lifelong and expensive to live with, and it is important for negligent medical professionals to be held accountable for their actions.
Source: The Texas Tribune, “Hospital lifts ban on non-specialists delivering babies,” Becca Aaronson, Aug. 2, 2013