Injuries to an infant before, during, or
after delivery can cause major medical
problems that can last for the rest of the
child's life. Brain damage, cerebral palsy,
Erb's palsy, and a host of other
complications can arise from improper
prenatal and postnatal care, as well as from
the actions of caregivers during the
delivery of a newborn. Nearly one-quarter of
all birth injuries involve some type of
brain injury and most occur during
complicated labor. Please read on to learn
more.
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There are many potential causes of birth
injury, the majority of which occur during
the delivery process. Causes of birth
injuries include:
Lack of Oxygen and Blood Flow
Many cases of birth injury, such as
instances of cerebral palsy, can be due to
the infant not getting enough oxygen and
blood flow during delivery. If the attending
physician and medical staff fail to act
quickly and correct the problem, permanent
brain injury can result.
Delay in Ordering a C-section
A caesarian section (the surgical removal of
the baby from the womb) can sometimes be
necessary in order to protect the safety of
the infant and/or the mother. If medical
personnel do not order a C-section in a
timely fashion, resulting in the infant
and/or mother going into distress, birth
injury can occur. Likewise, a surgical error
during a C-section can have dire
consequences for both mother and child. If
you fear that an error during a C-section
caused harm to your child, contact me
immediately.
Faulty Use of Delivery Equipment
Improper use of, or mistakes made with,
delivery equipment such as forceps and
vacuum extractors can result in birth injury
during delivery. This can be the case during
problem deliveries such as breech births,
where special tools are required to help
bring the infant out of the birth canal.
Improper Use of Medicine
Wrong dosages or incorrect medications given
to the mother or the infant can cause a
number of problems during and after
delivery, which may lead to serious personal
injury or even wrongful death.
These are just a few instances of medical
malpractice that can lead to serious birth
trauma. Contact me for assistance regarding
potential birth injuries to your child.
Medical Negligence
Medical malpractice, or negligence, is
frequently the cause of birth injuries, and
it is not unheard of for medical personnel
and hospitals to cover up the incident by
falsifying or destroying records. If the
parents are not informed of mishaps that
occurred during delivery, it may be years
before they even see any symptoms of birth
injury. In such cases, the statute of
limitations for filing a medical malpractice
lawsuit may be extended. |
