Uncovering the causes of birth injuries

On Behalf of | Jul 14, 2016 | Birth Injuries

A birth injury is a devastating event that can leave parents with anguish, financial hardship and vexing questions. How did this happen? Could it have been prevented?

While some birth injuries are the result of unforeseeable complications beyond anyone’s control, many are the direct result of negligence on the part of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals charged with caring for mother and child prior to during and after childbirth.

Some of the most common types of birth injuries include: 

  • Asphyxia: Cerebral palsy and other birth defects are caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, also known as asphyxia.
  • Broken bones: A broken bone during childbirth can leave the child with permanent disabilities, requiring ongoing and expensive medical treatment.
  • Brachial plexus injuries: Erb’s palsy and other serious conditions are caused by damage to brachial plexus, the network of nerves between the neck and the shoulder.
  • Spinal cord injuries: An injury to the spinal cord can leave the child with a lifetime of disability and may require physical therapy, rehabilitation and adaptive equipment. Infant back and neck injuries are sometimes caused by misuse of forceps and other medical errors.

For parents, it is difficult to know when a birth injury was caused by medical negligence and when it was not. This is why it is important to discuss your claim with an experienced Kansas City medical malpractice attorney who understands the standard of care expected of obstetricians, nurses and other medical professionals.

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