5 Birth Injuries for Which You May be Entitled to Legal Compensation

Posted in Medical Malpractice on August 28, 2014

Although some birth defects occur due chromosomal abnormalities or genetics, others can birth injuries, which are the result of poor prenatal care or medical malpractice. Your baby may suffer from lifelong physical, emotional and mental issues as a result of the negligence of a healthcare provider that you trusted. In such a case, working with a Columbus birth injury attorney may help you get compensation under the law for your baby’s injuries.

Here are five common birth injuries for which you may be entitled to compensation:

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy is caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain during delivery, and it can lead to life-long mental retardation or even cerebral palsy. As many as 9,000 newborns suffer from this condition each year.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves around the shoulder. A brachial plexus injury occurs when the nerves are damaged during delivery. Sometimes this occurs when the baby becomes stuck in the birth canal, usually the shoulder getting stuck on the pelvic bone.

When the baby is pulled out with a vacuum or forceps or is pushed out by the mother, it can stretch or tear brachial plexus. Since these nerves control movement and feeling in the arm, damage to the nerves can result in long-term paralysis.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy involves a variety of neurological disorders that permanently impair movement or muscle function. Lack of oxygen to the brain due to improper monitoring of the fetal heart rate and other poor choices made by healthcare providers during labor and delivery can lead to one of the neurological disorders that is behind cerebral palsy.

Erb’s Palsy

Also known as Erb-Duchenne Palsy, Erb’s palsy is also caused by damage to the brachial plexus nerves and can lead to long-term paralysis. The condition can also be caused by shoulder injuries during childbirth.

Broken Bones

A difficult birth can also lead to broken bones in a newborn. Improper management of labor and delivery can cause the baby to be stuck in a bad position or to be handled too roughly, leading to the injuries.

If your baby has suffered one of these injuries and you believe it to be the result of negligent care, call an experienced Columbus malpractice attorney to discuss your case. Children with birth injuries frequently require a lifetime of special care.