Safety Alert - Philips Avalon Fetal Monitors may produce inaccurate readings!

In a disturbing letter to Obstetric healthcare professionals and risk managers for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the FDA issued a notification regarding Philips Avalon Fetal Monitors.

They are reporting that there have been numerous complaints of inaccuracies, "when using the Philips Avalon Fetal Monitors, Models FM20, FM30, FM40, and FM50 with the ultrasound transducer. On September 4, 2009, Philips issued an Important Device Safety Alert. Inaccurate output readings, if not properly addressed, may lead to unnecessary interventions, failure to identify the need for interventions, and failure to identify fetal distress. The complaints most commonly occur during the second stage of labor. Recognizing these conditions and responding appropriately is important to avoiding serious adverse health consequences."

They go on to reference the Phillips alert which describes the complaints most commonly reported to the FDA and more importantly the steps recommended by Philips to to minimize and reduce the risk as much as possible. And of course, the need to report to them any incidences or complaints you have.

Our concern, as a firm known throughout Dallas, Texas and nationally as an aggressive advocate for families and children affected by cerebral palsy through medical error, is for preventing future cases of unavoidable cerebral palsy. This error is being noticed during the very crucial second stage of labor and a lack of notice about fetal distress could potentially be the difference between an emergency C-Section that ends with a healthy baby and a baby born with life-altering cerebral palsy. As our medical professionals tell us during the cases we have, it's during that vital time when monitoring is crucial to preventing a prolapsed umbilical cord or other events that can end in disaster.

We are watching this situation as it develops and as always, we'll update as more information becomes available. Please if you see this pass this on to friends or family that might work in obstetrics healthcare or in Labor and Delivery in hospitals. We want don't want another child born hurt because a medical facility is using a faulty product or a doctor or nurse made a mistake.

If you feel that you might have been affected by this scenario, or had fetal distress during labor that you feel like the medical professionals downplayed or failed to diagnose an issue that resulted in an injury for your child, don't hesitate to contact us and we'll review your case for free.