When a baby suffers an injury at birth, families are often distraught and have many questions. They may worry about their child’s and family’s future, and how to provide medical care and support. Parents may not know how an injury occurred, and whether medical negligence play a role. While injuries may occur despite doctors’, nurses’ and other medical staff providing the best possible care, other times complications may be the direct result of negligent actions.
Examples of birth injures that may result from negligence include brain injuries and cerebral palsy. For example, medical professionals must act quickly and take immediate appropriate actions when they see signs of fetal distress. The failure to act quickly to deliver a child may result in a loss of oxygen and blood flow to the baby’s brain, leading to permanent brain damage, and the potential for cerebral palsy.
Other birth injuries may include premature birth, injuries due to excessive pressure used during delivery/misuse of forceps which may lead to a brachial plexus injury, and hospital acquired infections.
Although these injuries are not always related to negligence, if your child has sustained a serous personal injury, reviewing the circumstances that led to the harm is important. Where a medical professional acted inappropriately and caused an injury that will last your child’s lifetime, it may be possible to recover damages that can help provide the resources necessary to provide the care you child deserves.
For more information, or if you believe your child may have suffered a birth injury due to another’s negligence, please contact the dedicated California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate and confidential consultation.