Pitocin is a drug used by doctors when women are in labor to help speed up contractions and induce the process. Inducing labor means that contractions are stimulated by the administering of a drug instead of waiting for it to occur naturally. The drug can increase the strength of the mother's contractions and it is recommended that doctors and hospitals closely monitor the contractions to ensure the safety of the mother and child. In some instances, a doctor may choose to administer Pitocin when it isn't medically necessary, or improperly dose the mother. In these instances, it is possible for the mother or the baby to suffer serious injury.

What is wrong with Pitocin?

While Pitocin is the only drug currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the purpose of inducing a living baby, the individual responses to administration of the drug vary. Health care professionals should gradually increase the doses of the drug while monitoring the baby and pattern of uterine contractions. Many doctors will deliver Pitocin in a steady stream, working contrary to the natural hormones produced by women in labor.

Recent research indicates that Pitocin may lead to a number of serious health defects, including:

• Premature separation of the placenta
• Paralysis
• Uterine rupture
• Brain injury
• Jaundice
• Post-birth hemorrhage
• Cerebral palsy
• Fetal asphyxia
• Neonatal hypoxia
• Stillbirth

In addition to these effects, some studies have even linked the drug to developmental delays and behavioral problems. While it will take some time to fully determine the effects of this drug on babies and mothers, the drug is still being used in excess amounts for women in labor.

There have been some high-profile personal injury lawsuits that have resulted from the intense use of Pitocin by medical professionals for women in labor. If you or a loved one had been given Pitocin during childbirth and experienced unexpected and negative medical consequences as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. Find a personal injury attorney in your area and schedule a consultation to discuss your available options.