Connecticut Birth Injury Attorneys
Experts estimate that 3-5 babies in 1,000 are injured during labor and delivery. Injuries range dramatically, from temporary problems that can be resolved during a short hospital stay to long-term medical conditions such as Cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy and others. Medical providers are trained to recognize the risk factors and warning signs for harm during labor and delivery - but when those signs aren’t noticed quickly enough, serious damage can occur.
The Connecticut Cerebral Palsy lawyers at Haymond Law have seen multiple cases of cerebral palsy and other devastating birth injuries caused by medical negligence. As a result of their extensive experience working with families, the firm has compiled the following summary of common birth injuries, risk factors and warning signs of an injury caused by medical negligence.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a condition in which brain damage affects body movement and muscle coordination. There are three types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. Spastic cerebral palsy causes a severe stiffening of different muscles within the body. Athetoid cerebral palsy causes an inability to control muscles. Ataxic cerebral palsy causes problems with balance and coordination.
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy refers specifically to injuries that involve the upper brachial plexus, or the muscles of the shoulder and elbow. Improper use of forceps or vacuum to resolve a situation of shoulder dystocia are common factors in Erb’s palsy injuries.
Kumpke’s Palsy
Klumpke’s palsy, also known as Dejerine-Klumpke palsy, refers specifically to injuries that involve the muscles of the forearm and hand - often causing paralysis of forearm, wrist, hand and fingers. In some cases, other symptoms known as Horner’s sign may accompany the impaired arm/hand functions, including eyelid drooping and pupil dilation in one eye.
The Dangers of Shoulder Dystocia
Many of these injuries occur as a result of shoulder dystocia during delivery. Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby’s shoulders are too large for the birth canal and become stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone. Without assistance, the baby can suffer brain damage or even death. Because shoulder dystocia is such a serious complication, there are very specific procedures to try and extricate a baby whose shoulders cannot emerge unaided. However, when physicians aren’t sufficiently trained in how to perform these procedures, traumatic injuries such as those outlined above are the results.
There are multiple factors that raise the risk for shoulder dystocia, including:
1. Diabetes in mother
2. Obesity in mother
3. Baby is more than 41 weeks old at delivery
4. Mother has small pelvis
5. Mother’s height is short
6. Baby has higher than normal birth weight
7. Mother has previously delivered large baby or experienced shoulder dystocia during previous deliveries
Signs of Medical Negligence
While some birth injuries are unpreventable, medical professionals are trained to recognize key warning signs and follow specific procedures to avoid harm during delivery. Medical negligence may have played a role in a child’s traumatic injuries under the following circumstances:
1. Doctor failed to obtain a thorough obstetrical history of the mother, including any previous history of diabetes, large babies, or difficult deliveries
2. Doctor failed to check for gestational diabetes during pregnancy
3. Doctor did not warn mother of excessive weight gain during pregnancy
4. Doctor did not evaluate fetal size by ultrasound during the third trimester
5. Doctor did not address late delivery date
6. Doctor did not assign or request qualified medical staff to help manage delivery
7. Doctor did not properly inform mother about need for caesarean section amid various delivery risks
8. Doctor did not manage shoulder dystocia appropriately, including improper use of pressure on the abdomen (fundal pressure), forceps or vacuum extractor or excessive force on the head or neck during delivery
Legal action cannot heal a child’s injury, but financial compensation can help ensure the best medical treatment and hold negligent parties responsible. Families affected by birth injuries in Connecticut should contact an experienced Connecticut personal injurylawyer for more information.
Source: Ezinearticles.com