Nervous parents in the delivery room always hope for good news that their newborn infant is healthy, but not everyone gets this news. Unfortunately, babies may arrive with birth injuries that can threaten their lives and present the risk of permanent disability. While such injuries can occur naturally, they can also occur as the result of a medical professional’s negligence.
When medical negligence is a factor, parents may have sufficient grounds to pursue legal action. Doing so can be important to afford the cost of medical care a child needed as a direct result of the birth injury a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional caused. Below, we’ll discuss five of the most common types of birth injuries these professionals can cause through negligence.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is an incurable, lifelong medical condition that occurs as the result of brain damage during birth. There are several ways in which medical negligence can cause cerebral palsy, such as the incorrect use of medical forceps and the incorrect use of an extraction vacuum. Another common cause of cerebral palsy is hypoxia, which we’ll discuss next.
Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a medical condition that occurs when oxygen isn’t reaching an infant’s brain in utero or during birth. Hypoxia may be caused by a placental abruption or a prolapsed umbilical cord. It can also occur when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s head, neck, or body. Sufficiently competent medical professionals can diagnose hypoxia and intervene by monitoring the baby’s heart rate.
Infections
Newborn infants come with fragile immune systems that may be prone to bacteria and infectious diseases. For this reason, medical professionals from doctors to nurses must all take great care in handling babies to minimize the risk of causing an infection.
Bone Fractures
Bone fractures can be fatal to newborns, and they can occur when negligence occurs during the birthing process. Doctors who fail to ensure infants are correctly oriented or are too forceful in assisting newborns leave the womb may break the baby’s bones, potentially causing permanent disability or death.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Mishandling a newborn during birth can also result in brachial plexus injuries, which damage the nerves that control one’s arms and hands. There are different types of brachial plexus injuries, such as Erb’s Palsy, which occurs when an infant’s shoulders aren’t correctly oriented when they pass through the birth canal.
Was Your Child Affected by Medical Negligence?
If your child suffered a birth injury due to a medical professional’s negligence, you may have grounds to pursue legal action. Doing so can be an important step to take to recover the financial resources necessary to afford the additional medical care your child needs.
For more information about taking legal action, contact the Law Office of David Kates for assistance today.