When Medical Negligence Causes Birth Injuries

 Posted on October 03, 2019 in Medical Malpractice

The birth of a child should be one of the best experiences of a new parent’s life. However, when medical malpractice or negligence is a factor during an infant’s birth, the results can be tragic. Birth injuries can result in years or even a lifetime of expensive and often painful medical procedures and ongoing medical care. If your child was injured during his or her birth due to medical negligence, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Types of Injuries That Can Occur During Birth

Birth injuries can occur during several different states of the delivery process. Some of the most common birth injuries include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb's palsy
• Nerve damage including brachial plexus Injuries (BPI)
• Perinatal asphyxia (lack of oxygen which can cause permanent neurological damage)
• Bone fractures
• Umbilical cord entrapment;
• Forceps or vacuum injuries
• Facial paralysis

Damages for Birth Injuries

Through a personal injury suit, the parents of children who have suffered birth injuries may be able to receive compensation for damages caused by the injury. Economic damages most often include medical bills, future medical expenses, lost wages, and caretaking expenses. Noneconomic damages are much more subjective than economic damages and can include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of a normal life, shortened life expectancy, and more.

Understanding When Doctors Are Negligent

Of course, not every birth injury is caused by medical malpractice or professional negligence. Generally, a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional is considered negligent when they fail to uphold their duty of care to their patient. The term “duty of care” means that medical professionals have an obligation to provide competent care to their patients. When a medical professional makes a decision that other professionals in their industry of similar experience would not make, it is likely that they acted negligently.

It can be hard to know for sure if a medical professional acted negligently without seeking help from other professionals. Contacting a personal injury lawyer with experience managing birth injury lawsuits is the first step for anyone who worries that their child was a victim of medical negligence during birth. Your attorney can help you determine if your child’s birth injury was caused by medical malpractice and will work with you in seeking the compensation you deserve

Contact a Winnebago County Birth Injury Attorney

If your baby was injured as a result of poor medical care at or immediately after his or her birth, contact an experienced Rockford medical malpractice attorney at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law. At our firm, we have decades of experience in the practice of medical malpractice law, and we are equipped to help you and your family obtain the compensation you need to move forward with your life. Call 815-215-7561 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=birth-injury-90-P02340

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56&SeqStart=97500000&SeqEnd=103300000