
Common Types of Birth Injuries
Although birth is often a routine procedure, minor or major complications can arise during the delivery process, and if patients are not properly monitored or if issues are not addressed correctly, serious harm can come to the mother or child. Some birth injuries that may occur because of medical negligence include:
- Fractures - A newborn baby’s bones are very fragile, and if improper force is used during delivery, a child’s bones may be broken. Some commonly fractured bones include collarbones, arms, and legs. Skull fractures may occur if forceps are used improperly, and they can be especially dangerous, leading to hemorrhaging that puts pressure on the child’s brain.
- Brain injuries - Damage to a baby’s brain can cause lifelong complications such as cerebral palsy. These injuries are often caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain (known as hypoxia), which can result if doctors or nurses do not properly address complications such as placental abruption, meconium aspiration, or a prolapsed umbilical cord.
- Nerve injuries - If a child becomes lodged in the birth canal (a complication known as shoulder dystocia), doctors or nurses may use too much force when extracting them. This can cause damage to the nerves in the shoulders and neck, leading to conditions such as paralysis in the limbs or Erb’s palsy. These types of injuries can also occur when devices such as vacuum extractors are used incorrectly.
Contact an Arlington Heights Birth Injury Lawyer
If your child has been injured during birth, they may experience life-long effects, and the costs related to their ongoing medical treatment or disability will impact your family’s finances for years to come. When birth injuries occur because of negligence on the part of medical personnel, you deserve to be properly compensated for your damages. Contact a Schaumburg medical malpractice attorney to learn how we can help you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Call us at 847-934-6000 to set up a free consultation.
About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/causes.html
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/general-problems-in-newborns/birth-injuries-in-newborns
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=birth-injury-90-P02340