Birth Injury Lawsuits: Holding Doctors Accountable
Having a child is one of the greatest joys in life. When something happens to your child during childbirth, however, it can cast a shadow on the rest of his or her life. That's why the Law Offices of Sean M. Burke is committed to helping patients throughout Orange County who have a birth injury lawsuit to file against negligent medical professionals.
Birth injuries refer to all kinds of potential harm that can befall a baby during delivery or even before delivery. Sometimes the signs of a birth injury may not be immediately apparent. Regardless, it's imperative that negligent doctors and medical professionals be held accountable when their actions result in injury to a baby. This is the primary function of birth injury cases and medical malpractice lawsuits in general.
Types of Birth Injuries
There are different kinds of injuries that may be sustained during birth or during pregnancy. Some examples include the following:
-
Injuries to the Brain – Brain injuries refer to various ways in which a baby's brain may be affected during pregnancy or the delivery process. Brain injuries to a child can result in serious mental, cognitive, and physical disabilities.
-
Physical Injuries – Physical injuries sustained as a result of negligence might include broken bones, nerve damage, muscle damage, or other injuries. These may be relative minor, though sometimes they can have lasting repercussions on a child's growth and development.
-
Brachial Plexus – These kinds of injuries refer to issues that affect the shoulder and upper arms. Serious nerve and muscle damage can result in weakness in the arms later in life as well as many other problems.
-
Shoulder Dystocia – This kind of issue involves a baby's head and shoulders becoming trapped during delivery, which can lead to a host of injuries that can affect physical and mental development if not addressed properly.
There are many potential causes of birth injuries. Some common ones to consider we've noted below.
Delayed Birth
When childbirth takes more than 18 hours, the effects of difficult labor on a child can be serious. The pressure placed on the baby's brain can be severe, triggering fetal distress (a rise in the baby's blood pressure) and resulting in serious injuries and long-lasting medical conditions.
Oxygen Deprivation
Many serious birth injuries are the result of oxygen deprivation, which can cause serious early brain damage. The effects of oxygen deprivation during childbirth can have long-term effects on a child's wellness and overall development.
Infection During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman may experience serious illnesses or medical conditions that can affect her developing child. When an OB-GYN or midwife fails to recognize obvious warning signs of illness, this can have costly repercussions for the baby.
Poor Prenatal Care
Prenatal care refers to all kinds of medical monitoring and checkups during a woman's pregnancy. In addition to missing an illness, other errors in prenatal care can result in birth injuries.
Other Kinds of Malpractice During and After Delivery
So many other kinds of injuries to a child may occur during delivery and time in the neonatal unit. This includes issues with C-sections, infection following childbirth, and so forth. In such cases, it's important that negligent doctors, hospital staff, midwives, and other medical professionals be taken to task for causing harm.
Contact the Law Offices of Sean M. Burke
For more information about your legal options following the injury of your child, be sure to contact our personal injury law firm today. We at the Law Offices of Sean M. Burke will work with you in your time of legal need.