Understanding the Common Causes of Birth Injuries and the Resulting Complications
While some injuries during birth cannot be prevented, others are the result of the negligence or malpractice on the part of the obstetrician, doctors, nurses, other medical staff or the medical facility before, during or immediately following birth. In such cases, you should consult with an experienced New York birth injury lawyer as you and your child may be entitled to monetary compensation.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries
The nine months of pregnancy and childbirth must be properly managed and monitored. From the first sonogram until the birth of the infant, your doctor and medical team have a legal obligation to follow certain medical standards of care to ensure both your safety and the safety of your child. If any member of the medical team fails to follow these standards, it may lead to complications during the pregnancy and ultimately birth injuries. Some of the common causes of birth injuries resulting from medical errors include:
- Improper communication between the healthcare professionals
- Improper or insufficient monitoring of the fetus before or during birth
- Failure to properly respond to bleeding
- Failure to properly respond to umbilical cord entrapment or fetal distress
- Misuse of forceps during delivery of the infant
Moreover, birth injuries may also result due to poor care administered after the birth of the infant, such as circumcision or failure to adequately attend to an infection. In order to evaluate a possible malpractice claim, your New York birth injury lawyer should thoroughly review both your and your baby's medical records. In some cases, it may also be beneficial for your lawyer to have the records reviewed by an expert nurse or physician.
Common Types of Birth Injuries
While almost no doctor or health care professional intends to cause harm to a baby, their negligent actions or lack of proper action may have catastrophic and lifelong impacts on the new lives they are bringing into the world and the lives of their loved ones. Some of the most serious medical problems that may result from substandard medical care include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Shoulder dystocia resulting in an arm injury (i.e. Erbs palsy or brachial plexus palsy)
- Facial paralysis
- Seizure disorders
- Brain injury
- Fractured bones
- Developmental delays
In the worst cases, the mistakes or negligent actions of healthcare professionals may even result in the death of the infant. To determine whether you and your child have a birth injury claim, you should consult with an experienced New York birth injury lawyer. Our clients have received verdicts of $43,940,000 and $23,500,000 in two birth injury cases.
New York birth injury lawyers Can Help You
For more information regarding birth injuries, you should contact the experienced New York birth injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm. They can help you better understand your legal rights and options. They can also help with birth injury claims in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida.