A recent medical malpractice lawsuit underscores the serious consequences that can arise from difficulties during the birthing process. The birth injury lawsuit involves the delivery of a now three-year-old girl who suffers from permanent root damage and a brachial plexus injury. A brachial plexus injury refers to damage that occurs to the nerves sending signals between your shoulder, arm and hand. The stretching, compressing or tearing of the nerves may lead to this type of birth injury.
Often these birth injuries are the result of excessive force or pulling by the obstetrician or other health care provider during the birthing process. If you you believe your child may have suffered a brachial plexus injury or other birth injury as the result of medical malpractice, consulting with an experienced California birth injury lawyer is important to determine your next steps and begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding an injury.
In testimony presented at trial, the doctor had noted "shoulder dystocia" during labor and delivery. Shoulder dystocia refers to the situation where a baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone. Where the baby is large – which was the case in this situation – the risk increases that a child will suffer a brachial plexus injury.
Where a doctor does not take effective action to prevent shoulder dystocia from causing a birth injury or neglects to assess the risk factors of your individual circumstances, they may be guilty of medical malpractice.
Here, the girl cannot lift or bend her left arm.
While the trial has not yet concluded, it highlights one of the more common birth injuries that can occur as the result of negligent medical care. For more information, or if you believe that your child may have been harmed as the result of medical malpractice, please contact the dedicated and compassionate California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.