A birth is usually a joyous affair. This can change if something occurs during labor and/or delivery that harms the baby. If this happens, a mother or other family member can file a malpractice suit for a childbirth injury.
What Is A Childbirth Injury?
A childbirth injury is any type of damage, harm or grievance that occurs during the process of labor and/or delivery. While some are accidental, genetic or complications, many are avoidable if the attending medical professional exercises due care and diligence. Some, in fact, are the result of mistakes of doctors or the hospital. The resulting harm to the child from a childbirth injury could be temporary. It could also be life threatening or permanent.
Childbirth injury can also refer to injuries to the mother during childbirth. In general, however, the focus is on injuries occurring to the child.
Common Types Of Childbirth Injury
There are several different types of childbirth injuries. Among them are:
- Hypoxia or oxygen deprivation – sometimes caused by the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck
- Trauma
- Bleeding in the skull or brain
- Cerebral Palsy
- Mental deficiency
- Other palsies including Erb’s Palsy and Brachial Plexus Palsy
- Shoulder dystocia
- Birth fractures
- Forceps lacerations
- Facial paralysis
- Caput succedaneum – a temporary swelling or bruising of the head (caput)
These injuries may or may not be the result of negligence by medical personnel. If the health problem is a result of medical mistakes or negligence, you may be able to file a medical malpractice suit. This may act towards compensating you for the actual cost of childbirth injuries.
The Costs Of Childbirth Injury
The result of childbirth injuries can be costly on many levels. The mother may suffer from feelings of guilt and/or depression. Furthermore, the entire family may be affected on a psychological and emotional level. The family may also suffer financially. The medical costs to the parents may be backbreaking causing economic hardship.
A mother and her family should not go through this alone. Financial compensation is possible. It is even feasible to obtain money for pain and suffering. It will mean file a suit for medical malpractice. To file properly, you should consider hiring a lawyer.
Talking To A Lawyer
If you wish to file a medical malpractice suit, you need to consider consulting an attorney. He or she will make sure you know how and when to file the suit. Under an experienced lawyer’s guidance, you should be able to make a successful case for medical malpractice resulting in a childbirth injury.
