How Does Medical Malpractice Cause Birth Injuries?
Pregnancy is supposed to be a time of joy for soon-to-be parents, and most expectant mothers and fathers anticipate their child will be born healthy and without complications. While many children are, unfortunately some children are born with avoidable birth injuries. According to reports, approximately 7 in every 1,000 children born in the United States are born with a birth injury. In certain cases, these birth injuries are completely avoidable, caused by medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice occurs whenever a medical professional fails to exercise her duty of care to a patient and injures the patient as a result. In other words, the medical professional has acted incompetently. These injuries can be relatively minor or they can result in serious injury or death. Medical malpractice may also result in birth injuries that cause the child or mother lasting complications. In fact, some 158,000 avoidable birth injuries occur each year.
Some examples of birth injuries caused by medical malpractice include:
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Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is a congenital birth disorder which affects the child’s movement and muscle tone. The child’s brain may be negatively affected due to oxygen deprivation, infection or trauma. Careful monitoring and early diagnosis may help avoid cerebral palsy.
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Brain Damage or Development Delays: Advances in medicine have made it easier for doctors to examine a child in utero, determining whether or not the child suffers or is likely to suffer from developmental complications.
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Wrongful Death: Complications may place a mother or child at risk. If an obstetrician is negligent in her examination, she may miss a health complication that could result in the death of the mother, the child, or both.
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Placental Abruption: During birth, the placenta may separate from the uterine wall. This process deprives the child of oxygen and essential nutrients. As a result, a child may be born prematurely, stillborn, or with some birth defect. It can also cause complications for the mother, including heavy internal bleeding, infection, and shock.
It is not uncommon for one to associate malpractice-induced birth injuries with those injuries that a child suffers. However, as demonstrated above, a mother may also suffer birth injuries as a result of a medical professional’s malpractice.
Call a Gainesville Medical Malpractice Attorney Today
Birth injuries caused by medical malpractice should have been avoided. Families who are victims of medical malpractice have a right to receive compensation from the doctors responsible. A skilled and experienced attorney can help you recover the compensation necessary to alleviate living with a birth injury. Here at Meldon Law, we are committed to zealously advocating for our clients. We will review the facts of your case in order to develop and execute an effective legal strategy. Schedule your initial consultation by calling (800) 373-8000 today or emailing us through our online contact form.
