Most Common Types of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries are one of the most heartbreaking forms of medical malpractice. When a child is injured during the birthing process it can cause irreparable damage to your life. There are many types of birth injuries and they range in severity from painful broken bones to catastrophic brain injuries that will require lifelong care.
Doctors, nurses, and technicians are expected to follow prescribed procedures and adhere to accepted medical care standards.
When they make a preventable mistake due to lack of training, distraction or inattention, they may be held liable for the injuries a child suffers. Getting the justice you deserve requires hiring an attorney experienced in birth injuries.
If you — or someone you love — has been a victim of medical malpractice, you owe it to yourself to contact a law firm that understands your case. At Farah & Farah, we have helped countless people in Florida and Georgia recover losses. Contact us now for your free, no-obligation review.
Most Common Birth Injuries
There are a countless number of birth injuries possible, and they are not mutually exclusive. From recoverable injuries to lifelong damage, birth injuries take the form of many vastly different conditions.
Understanding more about the common injuries can help you decide whether or not to enlist an attorney. Some common forms of a birth injury caused by medical negligence, or which you may take legal action include:
Brain Injuries
The brain is vulnerable to a wide variety of conditions, including cerebral hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, cephalohematoma, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Injuries of this nature are severe and can lead to neurological conditions like cerebral palsy.
There is a direct link between birth injury and the development of cerebral palsy. On average, out of every 1000 births, only 1.5 to four children will develop cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy may cause delayed social, emotional and cognitive development, as well as physical muscle differences. There are three main subtypes: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic.
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy can result from excessive stretching or pulling on the infant’s head or shoulders. As it passes through the birth canal, this movement damages the baby’s neck and head. Erb’s palsy can result from a negligent obstetrician performing a birth that causes damage to the child. People with Erb’s palsy display many difficulties, including trouble moving their arm, diminished arm strength, and loss of feeling in the arm. Health issues and disabilities from Erb’s palsy may be temporary or permanent.
Cranial Nerve and Spinal Cord Birth Injury
Cranial nerve and spinal cord birth injury are associated with aggressive stretching, rotating, and pulling on the baby during delivery. The nerves and spinal cord are susceptible to many types of damage, including facial nerve palsy, hemorrhages, respiratory failure, reduced capacity of the limbs, or paralysis.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
During the birthing process, a baby’s shoulder structure is susceptible to injury. Excessive strains on the infant can injure the network of nerves in the shoulder known as the brachial plexus. Common injuries to the brachial plexus include neurapraxia, neuroma, rupture, and avulsion. These nerves are essential in helping the brain communicate with the upper arm, forearm, hands and fingers. Injury to the brachial plexus can range in severity from irritating and temporary to debilitating and permanent.
Bone Birth Injuries
An infant has many more bones than an adult because many of their bones have not adequately fused. Since there are a greater number of bones, there is potential for bone fractures during the birthing process. Many of these are the cause of medical mistakes during labor. Common bone birth injuries include:
- Clavicle fracture
- Humerus fracture
- Femur fracture
- Depressed skull fracture
Many negligent actions can cause bone birth injuries, including mistakes in the birthing process, rushed labor, prolonged labor, undiagnosed breech birth, and improper delivery techniques.
Injuries to Mother
The process of pregnancy and childbirth can create havoc on a woman’s body. While advances in modern medicine mean permanent injuries are rare, medical negligence can cause irreversible damage. Obstetric mistakes can cause the mother pain and disability. Common injuries during birth include:
- Femoral nerve dysfunction
- Lumbosacral plexus injury
- Damage to Pelvis Floor
- Tear to the Perineal Area
- Muscle and nerve damage
Wrongful Birth
Medical professionals who do not disclose important information such as birth defects, congenital conditions or risks associated with a pregnancy are committing medical malpractice. Abnormalities with the fetus such as spina bifida, down syndrome, or cystic fibrosis may cause the child to be permanently dependent on its parents.
Children with these conditions may not be able to use talk, walk, bathe, or use the toilet without parental guidance. These considerations can bear significant financial burdens. Doctors who do not inform their patients about the potential risks of carrying these children to term are withholding valuable information that could cost their patient significant burden.
Contact Florida and Georgia’s Leading Birth Injury Attorneys Now
As there are many factors to a safe and injury-free birth, there are many ways in which medical malpractice can seriously harm a child or a mother during labor. While medical professionals are meant to focus on the safety of mother and child, serious errors regularly arise and cause major losses.
When doctors fail to provide a reasonable standard of care, they should be held accountable for their actions. If you have dealt with the hardship of a birth injury, you owe it to yourself to contact an attorney as soon as possible. A birth injury attorney can help you recoup your financial losses and get your life back on track.
Trust the birth injury attorneys at Farah & Farah with your case. Don’t delay getting the justice you deserve. Contact us for a free no-obligation consultation now!
