Was It Medical Malpractice?
An injury may be caused when a doctor doesn’t react in accordance with medical standards when there is a complication during delivery or if a doctor prescribed a harmful drug to a pregnant woman. Common errors that occur during childbirth include failure to recognize signs of fetal distress, failure to treat a prolapsed cord, failure to order a cesarean section as soon as it is needed, and improper use of forceps.
Injuries to the baby can include:
- Brachial palsy. This often occurs during delivery and damages the baby’s brachial plexus so that the baby can’t flex or rotate their arm.
- Facial paralysis. This can occur if too much pressure was applied on the baby’s face during labor; it may go away within a few weeks, but surgery may be necessary if not.
- Cerebral palsy. This can occur if the baby is deprived of oxygen during delivery. It can be mild or very serious, depending on which areas of the brain were affected.
- Erb’s palsy. This can occur if the doctor is having difficulty with the baby’s shoulders during delivery. The nerves around the shoulders can be stretched out and the arm may be paralyzed.
Not every birth injury is caused by medical negligence – you need an experienced and skillful lawyer to help you through what can be a confusing and emotional process. The right lawyer will know what information to gather and how to do so, will know how to identify the proper potential defendants, and will know how to investigate the circumstances surrounding the injury.
If you feel that your baby’s injuries could have been avoided and you are considering filing a birth injury claim, Patrick D. Troxler, Esq., is the compassionate attorney you need to help guide you through this difficult experience. Contact his office in Waldorf, Maryland, for a free consultation, at 301-264-6072.
