A child’s birth is a joyous moment in your life, but it can be catastrophic when things go wrong. A birth injury can be horrific for both the child and the parents to experience.
If your child’s birth injury resulted from medical malpractice, you might be able to recover compensation. At James Horne Law PA, we can aid you in recovering for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages, amongst other damages. If you need a compassionate birth injury attorney in Parrish, FL, contact us today.
Common Birth Injuries
Multiple types of birth injuries can occur, some resulting from negligence. The more common birth injuries that your child may have experienced are the following.
Brachial Plexus Palsy
Brachial plexus palsy refers to damage to the brachial plexus nerves. This network of nerves delivers signals to the arms and the hands from the spinal cord. Brachial plexus palsy typically occurs in only one to three of every 1,000 births.
Facial Paralysis
Facial paralysis is a temporary weakness in the face. It can give the baby’s face the appearance of drooping. Facial paralysis usually only affects one side of the face, but it sometimes affects both sides. Facial paralysis can happen if a doctor uses too much force or a medical provider administers anesthesia improperly. At the same time, it can also occur if a baby is large or if it is the mother’s first time giving birth.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy affects the brain’s control of the nervous system and the muscles. It is the result of damage to the developing brain or abnormal development of the brain. Like other typical injuries mentioned above, cerebral palsy is not always due to medical malpractice. This means that it can be challenging to prove that medical malpractice occurred. Nonetheless, our lawyers have the experience to help you get the best possible results.
Bruising or Forceps Marks
It is possible that a baby can have bruises on the head or face at birth. These bruises often occur due to moving through the birth canal. Infants could also have scalp bruising if the doctor delivers them by vacuum extraction. Forceps can also bruise a baby’s face. While forceps are sometimes necessary to grasp the baby, doctors have to use reasonable care.
Fractures
Clavicle and collarbone fractures are also common birth injuries. Usually, a doctor will have to provide an X-ray or ultrasound to see whether or not there is a fracture. Thankfully, this type of injury typically heals by itself. Nonetheless, if this injury was because of medical malpractice, you may be able to recover compensation for your child’s injuries. Available damages might include medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Contact a Parrish birth injury attorney at our firm, and we will help you determine if you have a case.
Typical Causes of Birth Injuries
There are several reasons a birth injury might occur. If you file a claim for medical malpractice, you will have to prove several key elements of negligence on the part of the healthcare provider. Essentially, you will need to show that the medical professional was the cause of injuries to your child. Below are a few of the most typical causes of birth injuries.
Delay in Ordering a C-Section
Doctors and other medical professionals have a duty of care toward you and your child. They must act as reasonable, ordinary doctors with the same amount of experience. However, a doctor does not always perform a C-section when needed. They may have been careless or lacked equipment. In any case, they may be responsible for injuries if there was a delay in ordering the C-section. A delayed C-section can cause brain damage, cerebral palsy, and other complications. Get in touch with us at James Horne Law if you have questions about filing your claim.
Inadequate Monitoring of Fetal Heart Rate
If a medical professional fails to monitor the fetal heart rate properly, they may be responsible for injuries. Checking the fetal heart rate is crucial to making sure that the infant has enough oxygen. Examining the fetal heart rate is also essential to see whether the baby is tolerating contractions and labor overall. It reduces the risk of birth injuries such as cerebral palsy.
If the doctor did not correctly check the fetal heart rate, they might have breached their standard of care. If your baby suffered a preventable birth injury, contact a Parrish birth injury lawyer at James Horne Law today.
Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extraction
If a healthcare professional uses forceps or a vacuum, this can result in birth injuries. For example, forceps can cause facial palsy or eye scratches. And if the provider does not correctly place the vacuum, it can cause scalp wounds or a skull fracture. The right type and size of cups in vacuum extractors also have to be used. Another reason these may cause injuries is if the doctor uses them for too long before choosing to perform an emergency C-section.
Complications associated with the use of forceps or a vacuum include but are not limited to:
- Blindness,
- Cerebral palsy, and
- Facial nerve palsy.
Reach out to us if you believe your child has sustained birth injuries because of improper forceps or vacuum use.
How Our Birth Injury Lawyers in Parrish, FL Can Help
At James Horne Law, we are here to support you if your child has suffered from a birth injury. You do not have to go through this alone. Contact our accomplished lawyers today for further information on how to get started filing your claim. Practice areas at our firm include birth injury claims, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis claims, and personal injury claims.
At James Horne Law, our detail-oriented lawyers believe no case is too complex. We take the time to analyze every facet of your legal situation. Call us today at 941-210-6000 or complete our online form to request a consultation.