Common Birth Injures Due to Medical Negligence
January 2, 2018
The day of your child’s birth should be one of the most joyful of your life. Your immediate instinct is to protect that child. But when your child is injured during delivery because of negligence or malpractice by medical personnel, you may find yourself feeling helpless, and the day can become one of the worst of your life. After all, a birth injury can mean lifelong care and life-altering consequences – for you and for your child.
Some of the most common birth injuries due to medical negligence include:
Brain Injuries: When oxygen deprivation occurs during delivery it can result in a variety of problems – the worst of which is a brain injury. A brain injury can lead to many types of disorders, including cerebral palsy and chronic seizures. A brain injury can occur when an infant remains in the birth canal for too long, or is not properly monitored after birth. Even mild oxygen deprivation can lead to serious consequences.
Brachial Palsy Injuries: These injuries, which include Erb’s Palsy and Klumpke’s Palsy, can happen when the bundle of nerves responsible for moving the arms and hands – the brachial plexus – is damaged. This injury can occur when the baby is trapped by the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery, and the physician pushes too hard or incorrectly. The results can range from mild effects to severe limitations, including total loss of motion and feeling in the shoulder or hand.
Cephalohematoma: This injury is marked by bleeding underneath the cranium. It can appear several hours after birth as a raised bump on top of the infant’s head. It can be caused by birth-assisting tools. Although the bump usually disappears within a few months, this injury can cause other risks, including jaundice, anemia, hypotension, and sometimes meningitis.
Facial Paralysis: When an infant’s face experiences too much pressure during delivery, it can result in damaged nerves. This may be caused by forceps or a vacuum extractor. The baby may not be able to close the eye on the affected side of the face, and there is usually no movement on the side of the injury. This may clear up if the injury is not severe; but it can lead to total paralysis on the affected side of the face.
Fractures: The most common of birth injuries, fractures generally affect the clavicle – or the collarbone. They are frequently caused by shoulder dystocia or they happen during a breech delivery. This injury can prevent the baby from moving the arm on the affected side.
Although the above represents some of the most common birth injuries, there are many others. Some injuries are mild and may heal on their own. Some injuries can be very serious – even life-altering or life-ending. And when negligence or malpractice is involved and a child sustains an injury that should not have happened, the child and the parents may have to live with the consequences forever.
Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Will Protect Your Rights
If your child suffered a birth injury that you believe was caused by a medical error, the legal team at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can help. Our skilled medical malpractice lawyers in Baltimore will seek opinions from medical experts, make sure your child receives the medical treatment and rehabilitation you need, and fight for all of the financial and other benefits you deserve. Please call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online for a free consultation. Our offices are conveniently located throughout the state of Maryland.
