Unfortunately, it’s possible for mothers and infants to get injured during child birth due to the negligence of medical staff. If you’ve been a victim of this type of medical malpractice, here’s what you need to know.
Common examples of birth injuries associated with medical malpractice
One of the most common forms of birth injuries associated with medical malpractice is brachial plexus palsy, a condition that affects the baby’s arm and hand movement as well as shoulder and back muscles. Another common form is cerebral palsy, which can affect the baby’s muscles and brain development. Cerebral palsy usually manifests itself in various ways, such as poor coordination or lack of balance when walking. Other types of birth injuries associated with medical malpractice include:
- Anoxic brain damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Various forms of fractures, including broken ribs and clavicle bones
Some birth injuries may show up immediately after the baby is born while others might not be noticeable until months or years later. It’s important for mothers to keep track of all medical records to document these injuries.
How are these injuries connected with medical malpractice?
Any time a doctor or other medical professional is negligent, it can lead to birth injuries. For example, if they fail to perform an ultrasound on the mother during pregnancy and don’t realize there’s something wrong with the baby’s positioning in the womb, this could result in complications that cause paralysis for that child when he or she is born.
Birth injuries are different from birth defects
Some birth injuries are directly caused by negligence or misconduct on the part of medical professionals. Birth defects, however, may be present in a child well before he or she is born; they aren’t necessarily caused by any wrongdoing. It’s very difficult to prevent many birth defects even when the mother and doctors take every precaution possible during pregnancy and childbirth.
It’s devastating for a mother to learn that her child has suffered injuries during the birthing process. Understanding the nature of medical malpractice and the steps to take to get justice is critical in such circumstances.
