Tonawanda Woman fights for change to Workers’ Compensation law after death of baby
May 11, 2022Posted:
(WIVB) — A Tonawanda woman, who lost her baby, is fighting to change Workers’ Compensation law in New York State.
Michelle Waugaman was 16 weeks along in her pregnancy, working as an at-home care nurse, when she fell down the stairs of her patient’s home.
“Everything was fine before that fall,” she told News 4. “I had a healthy pregnancy; there was not one complication.”
But that fall caused premature rupture of membranes and at just 23 weeks, an emergency sonogram showed Waugaman’s baby girl was not getting oxygen.
“There [were] no more choices for me to hold on – she had to come out. So they made the decision to prep the O.R. and take me in for an emergency C-section,” she said. “That was one of the most traumatic days of my entire life.”
Thank you to Channel 4 for covering this issue and to Assemblyman William Conrad for stepping up to help sponsor a change after receiving my call. Workers’ compensation carriers should not receive financial benefit from the loss of a pregnant worker’s baby after not paying a cent for the medical bills, death or funeral expenses of that baby following the pregnant mother’s work injury.
Pregnancy and injury to the unborn needs to be addressed in the statute. Pain and suffering needs to be paid directly to the individual who endured the pain and suffering. My client seeks change. Please help. Contact your state representatives.
Office Location:
Law Office of Kathryn M Kirsch
295 Main Street
Suite 1090
Buffalo, NY 14203
716-861-2300 (p)
716-200-1707 (f)