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Off-label drug use during labor can inspire tragic consequences

On Behalf of | Jan 15, 2025 | Birth Injuries

The labor and delivery process is one of the most dangerous parts of pregnancy. Things can go wrong in an instant. From placenta issues to dilation challenges, there are a variety of medical issues that can complicate labor and delivery.

Both mother and child can be at risk without the right medical support. Doctors overseeing the labor and delivery process have to pay close attention to their patients. They need to keep themselves up to date on best practices. If the circumstances necessitate interventions, doctors typically have to choose the most effective interventions possible given the circumstances. Sometimes, doctors rely on interventions that are unnecessarily risky. The choice to administer off-label medications during labor can be a tragic mistake when something goes wrong.

Some off-label prescribing can be safe

The practice of off-label prescribing is generally seen as reasonably safe and appropriate. Once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug for certain purposes, it is reasonable for healthcare professionals to assume that the same medication remains safe when administered for other, unapproved purposes.

However, the human body during pregnancy is vastly different than it is at other times. A woman’s health is more precarious, and medication that might be safe at other times can be dangerous during pregnancy. Doctors have to make informed decisions about what drugs they administer and what treatments they employ.

There are several options available to facilitate cervical dilation and speed up contractions. Most of those drugs have undergone testing to ensure that they are safe for use during labor and delivery. One drug occasionally used by health care professionals actually has a warning label indicating the opposite.

The drug Cytotec, also known by the generic name misoprostol, can prove deadly if delivered during labor and delivery. It can cause catastrophic uterine rupture. In other words, giving Cytotec to a woman in labor could put her and her unborn child at risk of dying. That decision could also result in permanent infertility.

Given that there are numerous other drugs capable of providing the same benefits without the same risks, the off-label use of Cytotec during delivery is a very questionable medical decision. In situations where patients develop birth injuries caused by poor care decisions on the part of their doctors, they may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit over unfavorable birth outcomes and poor care standards can help families after a joyful birth experience turns tragic.

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