If a healthcare provider, medical practitioner, or hospital facility causes injury to either the mother or child either before, during, or following the birth process, you might be able to recover compensation. If you or your child suffered injuries during the birth process, you might have the legal right to justice. Learn how a Los Angeles birth injuries lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 970-4884 can help you understand how you can seek justice for your injuries or losses.
Birth Injuries in the United States
Birth injuries range from major to minor injuries and often occur as a result of mechanical forces during labor and delivery, or the failure of a medical professional to properly oversee the birth process.
While some infants have congenital challenges or are born with birth defects, these instances are completely separate from birth injuries that occur as a result of medical malpractice. Birth injuries resulting from medical malpractice occur when a doctor, surgeon, nurse, hospital staff member, medical facility professional, anesthesiologist, or other healthcare provider or facility handles a medical event in a negligent way that does not represent the way a prudent healthcare practitioner would respond.
Some of the common causes of birth injuries related to medical malpractice include:
- Failure to perform a Cesarean section (C-section) in a timely manner, given the specific facts and circumstances of the mother and child in the delivery process.
- Misuse or negligent use of a medical device such as a vacuum device or forceps.
- Failure to identify, recognize, or immediately treat an infection in either the mother or the child.
- Failure to appropriately handle the wrapping of an umbilical cord around a baby’s neck or entrapment of a child during the birth process.
- Failure to appropriately address any medical emergency of the mother or child, including excessive bleeding, physical distress, or deprivation of oxygen.
If any of these circumstances occurred before, during, or immediately following the birth of your child, you might have the legal right to pursue compensation for your injuries as well as justice. Learn how a Los Angeles birth injuries lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you determine your next legal steps and options regarding your medical malpractice case.
Types of Birth Injuries Related to Medical Malpractice
Some medical challenges that exist following the birth process indicate medical malpractice or negligence on the part of a surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse, or healthcare provider. If you, or your baby, suffered any of the following medical conditions or received any of the following diagnoses, you may have the right to file a claim to receive compensation for your injuries and losses.
Cerebral Palsy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cerebral palsy results following brain damage occurring either prior to the birth process or during the birth process. Complications during the birth process can result in cerebral palsy, which is a permanent condition that affects a child’s entire life and may include tremors, difficulty walking, challenges with speaking, and a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Brain Damage
Brain damage occurs during the birth process to a newborn child as they may not have enough oxygen. This deprivation of oxygen during the time of delivery can result in either cerebral palsy or a permanent vegetative state for the child. Additionally, other complications may result from brain damage resulting from a lack of oxygen, including seizures and other neurological issues.
Spinal Cord Injuries
If certain medical devices, such as forceps, were incorrectly utilized during the birthing process, it may cause permanent spinal cord damage or nerve damage to the child. Unfortunately, in severe cases, permanent neurological challenges may result if a child’s spinal cord remains significantly damaged and injured during the birthing process.
Excessive Pulling
In some cases, a child remains stuck in the birth canal, and critical decisions need to occur regarding how to get the child out of the birth canal to finish the delivery process. If a child remains in the birth canal too long, they may suffer from a lack of oxygen, which can lead to cerebral palsy or other brain damage.
In these cases, a medical practitioner may make the decision to use forceps or a vacuum extraction device in order to help pull the child from the birth canal. If this process occurs with too much force, the excessive pulling from the birth assisting tools may cause permanent injuries to both the mother and child, depending on the circumstances.
Infections
The birthing process is a medical procedure, and as such, infections may occur in either the mother or the child during or immediately following the birthing process. The hospital staff, physician, nurse, anesthesiologist, and other health care providers should ensure that they routinely monitor both mother and child for infections, and treat any that develop as quickly as possible.
Cephalohematoma
During trauma involved in the birth process, a baby may suffer from cephalohematoma, which is a serious condition resulting from the pooling of blood from blood vessels under the skin of an infant, according to a study published in StatPearls.
For a free legal consultation with a Birth injuries Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 970-4884
Learn How a Los Angeles Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help
If you or your baby suffered any kind of injuries as a result of negligence on the part of any hospital staff employee or healthcare provider either before, during, or immediately following the birthing process, you might be able to pursue justice and compensation for your injuries and losses. Learn how a Los Angeles birth injuries lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 970-4884 can help you with your next steps.
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