Potential Medical Malpractice Lawsuits: How to Proceed After a Birth Injury by Phillip Stone
A couple of the largest jury awards in United States history have come in lawsuits that followed injuries to a baby at birth. A California medical malpractice suit brought $21 million dollars to a family in L.A. whose child was born with severe spinal cord injuries. It was determined that Ashley Hughes was paralyzed by the forceps used by a doctor during delivery. In Massachusetts, the parents of a newborn child won a $40 million dollar judgment against a doctor who waited too long to perform a c-section when there were complications. The baby was born with cerebral palsy after suffering a lack of oxygen.
Those are two disturbing examples of what can go wrong in the delivery room. The dangers of birth injuries are the worry of all parents. Despite the best efforts of the medical profession, things can and do go wrong. When the problem is the result of neglect or misconduct, a medical malpractice lawsuit should be considered.
There are a number of potential dangers that can produce birth injuries. Government statistics show that just over 20 percent of all children born in America will suffer a birth injury and almost 1 million women each year will develop complications during pregnancy. The most common birth injuries include: fractures, stroke, asphyxiation, and cerebral palsy. Delivery room doctors must take great care to make sure that the unborn baby is being supplied enough oxygen. Fetal distress can occur when blood is cut off to the fetus or if the amount of oxygen in the blood drops. Not only does this place the child at risk but it also could put the mother in danger. Women who are suffering from an infection or have a pre-existing condition like high blood pressure have a higher risk of developing problems.
A placental abruption is another common birth injury that will threaten the well being of the fetus. If the placenta separates from the wall inside the mother’s uterus, blood and oxygen supplies can drop. Babies deprived of oxygen can develop brain damage or cerebral palsy, which will affect them for the rest of their lives. Care for such a child can be very expensive and a medical malpractice lawsuit could help you recover the costs. Consult an attorney who specializes in this area of law if you have any questions.
About the Author
An experienced birth injury attorney can help families file personal injury or wrongful death claims related to medical negligence during delivery.