Common Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice

To have a viable birth-injury case, it is necessary for a plaintiff to have suffered an actual injury. As a result of the negligence of an obstetrician or physician, a mother, her child, or both may be physically injured. In this blog post, we’ll look at some common birth injuries caused by medical malpractice.

Common Injuries to a Child, Caused by Medical Malpractice

One of the most common injuries a child suffers due to medical malpractice during labor or delivery is brain damage, which is generally caused by a lack of oxygen to the child’s brain during labor or delivery. Undue pressure through the use of forceps or a vacuum on the child’s head during delivery may also cause brain damage. A child may also suffer brain damage if efforts to resuscitate him or her are inadequate. For example, a delay in administering a blood transfusion during resuscitation efforts can cause irreversible brain injury.

Another common injury experienced by children as a result of obstetrical malpractice is a brachial plexus injury, affecting the shoulder, arm, or hand. A child may suffer a brachial plexus injury, such as Erb’s palsy, as a result of a doctor’s use of excessive force in extracting the child from the womb.

Other common injuries include cerebral palsy, facial paralysis, and epilepsy.

Common Injuries to a Mother, Caused by Medical Malpractice

There are various injuries a mother may suffer in connection with the delivery of a child. Some common injuries include:

• Vaginal tears
• Broken bones
• Uterine rupture
• Uterine inversion
• Nerve injury
• Pelvic organ prolapse

Many birth injuries are due to the negligence of medical personnel. Why should you or your child suffer due to their negligence? You shouldn’t. If you believe your or your child’s injury is due to an error by medical personnel, we invite you to reach out to us today for a free consultation. We can answer your legal questions and would love to chat with you.