Different Types of Birth Injury Lawsuits
When parents welcome their new baby into the world, they want to celebrate the arrival of a family member they’ve looked forward to meeting. The last thing they want is to question whether their doctor and hospital staff did everything they could to prevent their baby from suffering serious harm.
In some situations, however, serious injuries have occurred—and facing the fact that medical negligence or malpractice is involved is necessary in order to do the best thing for your child. Here are some of the more common types of birth injuries that lead to medical malpractice claims:
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that affect the fingers, hand, arm, shoulder, and neck. If any part of the brachial plexus is injured, temporary or permanent impairment or paralysis may result. These injuries are more common during births due to the way the baby’s head moves through the birth canal.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is an injury to the motor cortex of the brain, which can result from oxygen deprivation or other trauma during labor, particularly if medical staff are not properly monitoring the baby’s heart rate and other vital signs. Permanent motor function impairments and other serious lifelong symptoms can result.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida occurs when the neural tube, which becomes the spine and brain, fails to fully seal itself. If prenatal treatment and screening fails to meet the standard of care, a baby may be born with spina bifida that the parents did not expect.
Birth injuries can be among the most devastating results of medical malpractice. If your newborn shows signs of injury or illness and you suspect that negligence during birth is to blame, don’t hesitate to talk to an experienced Pittsburgh birth injury lawyer who can help you understand and pursue options to help protect your baby’s future. Contact Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC today.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.