About Birth Injuries

Families looking forward to the birth of their baby do not expect that a medically caused birth injury could alter their dreams forever.  Sadly, these tragic medical accidents can happen in a matter of moments.  A distracted or inattentive doctor who missed the baby's lack of oxygen; a child that should have been delivered by caesarean section running into trouble causing brain damage; ripped or destroyed nerves in the shoulder of the child causing paralysis, and cerebral palsy are some of the more common birth accidents.  When the doctor has failed to notice a situation that should have been observed and handled per the textbook, it is likely that you need to contact a lawyer that specializes in medical malpractice cases.

Medical Malpractice and Childbirth

In cases in which the mother was likely to have a much larger baby (such as mothers with diabetes), the doctor usually takes note of this factor and considers a caesarean section, as the baby is much more likely to get into trouble during birth, due to their size.  If this has not been discussed or planned for, it is possible that this is a medical error.  Some birth injuries cannot be helped and are not caused by negligence, and are equally sad; however, negligence on the part of the doctor, anesthesiologist, nurse or other medical personnel requires that something be done about the situation legally.

In some cases of birth injuries, the damage comes about through the lack of proper care for a premature infant.  When the care is not carefully provided, the child can have serious developmental and physical problems.  In some cases, the problems are not caused by negligence, but in other cases, it has been found that proper care was not provided to a premature infant.   Another condition is called Brachial Palsy, when an infant's shoulder is trapped on the pelvic bone of the mother and the nerves are torn, causing paralysis.  This paralysis could resolve over time, but when the nerves are ripped or severed, the condition can be permanent. 

Any birth injury is an emotional and difficult time for the family.  Seeking legal help can be reassuring, as you know if errors have been made, the legal action you take can help future families to avoid the problems that you are now facing, and the claim for damages can ensure the most current treatments and medical care.