A birth injury is when an infant suffers brain or physical injury during the delivery process. Birth injuries include Cerebral Palsy, Erbs Palsy, prenatal stroke, facial paralysis, fractured bones, and brain damage. All too often preventable birth injuries have been caused the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is often the result of medical mistakes during the delivery process that causes an injury to the brain. A variety of neurological disorders that involve the area of the brain responsible for controlling muscle coordination and movement are encompassed under the listing of Cerebral Palsy. A decrease of oxygen to the brain is a common cause of Cerebral Palsy. The decrease in oxygen can be a result of fetal distress, umbilical cord entrapment, or meconium aspiration. Unresponsiveness, difficulty breathing, seizures shortly after birth, bluish skin tone, paralysis, or poor muscle control are some of the initial signs and symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in an infant. Additional indications can include difficulty sucking or feeding.
Erbs Palsy
Erbs Palsy is a condition that involves damaged nerves in the brachial plexus, an area adjacent to the shoulders, impacting movement to the arms and hands. Weakness and permanent paralysis can occur when these nerves have been damaged. Excessive pressure placed on the nerves in the infant’s shoulder during deliver can result in nerve damage, but so can a vacuum assisted extraction procedure or improperly used forceps. When an infant is too large to pass through the birth canal safely and the physician pulls on the infant’s head during delivery, the neck and shoulders of the infant may stretch, resulting in permanent nerve damage and Erbs Palsy.
Birth Injuries are Often Caused by Medical Malpractice
Medical personnel can make several types of mistakes that can cause birth injury, including:
- Delaying or failure to recognize the need for a Caesarean Section;
- Failure to detect that the umbilical cord has wrapped around the baby’s neck;
- Failure to pay close enough attention to the signs and symptoms of fetal distress;
- Failure to refer a woman to a specialists when she has a high risk pregnancy;
- Failure to take the appropriate steps to avoid a premature delivery; or
- Failure to act in an appropriate manner when there are signs of oxygen deprivation to the fetus.
If your child appears to be suffering from a birth defect or birth injury you may be trying to understand what happened and who you can help your child.
The medical malpractice attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg have over 70 years of combined experience on behalf of injured patients. We have the extensive experience in handling medical malpractice claims you deserve.
The Hudson birth injury attorneys at Greenberg and Greenberg handle cases throughout New York State, including Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, and Albany County. Our legal team has earned a reputation for dedicated service to our clients injured in New York personal injury accidents. Please contact us today to receive a FREE case evaluation by dialing locally to 518-828-3336 or call toll free at 877-469-9300.