Father Raising Twins After Wife Bled To Death After Caesarean

Michal Lura Friedman was a singer in New York who went by the moniker Michal the Girl. With her partner, Jay Snyder, the couple had been trying to conceive for 7 years. After fertility treatments, the happy couple learned Friedman was pregnant with twins. 

At the age of 44 and with pregnancy-related high blood pressure, Friedman was treated as a “high risk” patient at the NYU Maternal Fetal Care Center. However, the pregnancy progressed without serious issues until she went into labor. 

Friedman was having a Caesarean section and the delivery went well, delivering two healthy babies, a son and daughter. However, things took a turn when Friedman continued to hemorrhage, and she later bled to death. Snyder was left wondering whether something went wrong. 

Complications in Labor and Pregnancy

When a patient is hemorrhaging blood, failing to act quickly can cause hemorrhagic shock and death. Doctors and medical staff who are caring for pregnant women need to monitor the health of the mother and unborn child, to give both the best chance of success throughout the pregnancy, during labor, and after birth. Failure to properly monitor a patient could result in injury to the mother and infant. 

C-Section Risks

According to an article in the Lancet, many Caesarean sections, or C-section, deliveries are unnecessary. A C-section involves making a cut into the uterus and stomach area to deliver the baby. A C-section may be deemed medically necessary due to other complications that put the mother or baby in danger. C-sections may also be recommended with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. However, some decisions to undergo a C-section are made for non-medical reasons. 

There are risks of a C-section to both the baby and mother. Risks to the baby include:

• Cuts and lacerations from surgery
• Breathing problems
• Delay in breastfeeding
• Permanent medical issues like obesity or allergies

Risks to the mother include:

• Excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging
• Uterine rupture
• Blood clots
• Adverse reactions to anesthesia
• Increased risk for infection
• Complications with the surgical wound

Additionally, there is generally a much longer recovery process for a C-section, up to 6 weeks or more, compared to about 2 weeks for a vaginal birth. 

Lawsuit for Injuries Suffered During Labor

After Michel Friedman’s death, the family filed a lawsuit against the NYU medical personnel. According to the family’s allegations, the medical staff failed to monitor Friedman for 18 minutes while she waited in a recovery room after the C-section. According to the report, protocol requires nurses to check on the patients twice every 5 minutes. 

The hospital eventually offered a settlement of $4 million, to be paid to the father and two children. 

Labor and Birth Injury Lawyers

If a loved one suffered an injury during pregnancy or labor and you suspect it may have been due to the doctor’s negligence, it’s critical to speak with a medical malpractice attorney who has experience with these cases. To discuss a labor or birth injury with a member of our legal team, fill out an online case evaluation form or call (866) 849-9899 today.