What are Birth-Related Injuries in a Maryland Medical Malpractice Claim?
Given the number of new babies that enter the world every day, it is not surprising that there are issues and complications when some babies are born. Not every pregnancy will go smoothly, and sometimes accidents can happen. When an accident happens during childbirth, the mother, child, or both could be injured. The important difference to note is whether it was truly an accident or was there malpractice involved?
Common Types of Birth Injuries
The process of childbirth is not easy, and there is always a risk of complications. Some of the common injuries that can affect a mother or child during childbirth include:
- Brain injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Nerve injuries
- Strangulation by the umbilical cord
- Broken bones
- Death to the mother
- Stillborn baby
- Infections
- Bleeding inside the skull
- Paralysis
- Untreated jaundice which causes Kernicterus
- Brachial plexus injuries, which includes Erb’s Palsy
Thankfully, birth injuries are usually quite rare as a percentage of the number of babies that are born every day. However, when there is a birth injury, it is typically catastrophic and life-changing.
What Causes Birth Injuries?
When you entrust medical professionals to deliver your baby, you expect them to deliver your child safely. In very few cases, a birth injury may be related to unforeseen circumstances. Most of the time, it is due to a trusted medical professional who has not acted with reasonable care. This person’s negligence results in the mother’s or baby’s injury. Here are some of the negligent actions that can cause a birth injury:
- Failure to give the newborn oxygen
- Not medicating the mother properly during delivery or throughout the pregnancy
- Not performing a C-section when it is medically necessary
- Failure to notice an infection either in the fetus or mother
- Miscalculating the size of the child
- Not monitoring the mother or fetus during the delivery
- Miscalculating the due date resulting in a delivery date that was not expected
- Not using delivery tools correctly
What to do if You Suspect Birth Injury Malpractice
If you suspect that your child suffered a birth injury, it is imperative to get medical treatment right away. Getting treatment sooner rather than later can in many cases help reduce the potential for increased damage. Unfortunately, some children will require treatment for the rest of their lives. This can be extremely expensive, as they may need numerous pediatric specialists and years of physical therapy and such. In-home care is sometimes too much for the family to take on, so they need to look at placing the child in a specialized care facility.
It is understandable that you want your baby to have access to the best care possible. This may not be covered by services like Medicaid. If your baby’s injury was preventable, then it is important to speak with a Maryland medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. You may have the right to bring a lawsuit against any negligent parties to be awarded financial compensation to help you pay for your baby’s ongoing treatment.
Contact the Law Office of Robert R. Castro today at 301-870-1200 to schedule an initial consultation. Let us evaluate your case and advise you on whether or not you have a viable birth injury negligence claim.
