Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Birth Injuries from Medical Malpractice
The birth of a baby is one of the most joyous events in a parent’s life. Unfortunately, the event can be marked by feelings of helplessness, frustration, fear and despair if the baby has suffered a birth injury as he or she made their way into the world.
Birth Injury Statistics
Approximately 28,000 birth injuries occur every year in the United States.
This means that one baby gets injured during birth every three hours.
Babies can suffer injuries during the birthing process due to factors such as:
- prolonged labor,
- premature birth,
- breech birth (buttocks or feet first), and
- incorrect medical procedures.
There are a number of common malpractice mistakes that result in birth injuries. Medical malpractice occurs when the care provided by a health care professional deviates from accepted standards of care in the medical community and results in an injury or death to the patient.
Common Malpractice Mistakes
While some birth injuries can not be prevented, those due to incorrect medical procedures are often the result of negligent care by a doctor or nurse.
- Improper insertion and monitoring of IUDs
- Failure to conduct proper physical examinations
- Failure to ascertain medical history
- Improper use of Pitocin, a hormone used to induce labor
- Failure to recognize and diagnose complications during gestation
- Failure to recognize and respond to umbilical cord entrapment
- Failure to respond to fetal distress
- Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractor
- Delay of necessary caesarean section
- Poor care after birth
Common Birth Injuries
The effects of a birth injury can be temporary and minimal, or lifelong and debilitating.
Common birth injuries include:
- Caput succedaneum (severe swelling of the scalp)
- Cephalohematoma (bleeding in the head)
- Bruising/forcep marks
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage (breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes)
- Facial paralysis
- Brachial palsy (damage to nerves in the shoulders, arms, and hands)
- Fractures
- Cerebral palsy
Birth Injury Lawsuits
Children who suffer from a birth injury may require lifelong care, which can amount to millions of dollars. Parents of children who have suffered a birth injury should consult a medical malpractice attorney who specializes in birth injuries.
Every state has a statute of limitations that limits the time to file a personal injury lawsuit, so parents should contact a Boston birth injury lawyer promptly after the injury is diagnosed.
If your child was injured during birth (or soon after) you may be entitled to compensation to assist your family with medical and other expenses related to the care of your child.
Kiley Law Group will evaluate your case for FREE and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact us toll-free 1-888-208-1695.
Free Consultations.
