Bonita Springs Birth Injury Lawyer
The birth of a child should be a joyous time for the entire family. Unfortunately, medical teams in the labor and delivery room are made up of human beings, and they can make mistakes. In birth injury cases, these mistakes are entirely preventable. If your child has suffered a birth injury, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Below, our Bonita Springs birth injury lawyer explains the common types and causes of these injuries.
Common Types of Birth Injuries
While no one wants to consider the possibility, infants can suffer many different types of birth injuries during the labor and delivery process. However, there are some birth injuries that are more common than others in Florida. These include:
- Asphyxia: Asphyxia occurs when a person cannot breathe. During childbirth, the umbilical cord may wrap around an infant’s neck, or delivery may be unnecessarily delayed. A lack of oxygen can result in brain damage that causes lifelong mental and physical disabilities.
- Brachial plexus injuries: The brachial plexus is a network of nerves located in the neck, shoulder, and arm. These nerves transmit signals from the spinal cord and brain to the hands, arms, and shoulders. Injury to these nerves usually occurs when an infant’s shoulders become stuck behind the mother’s pelvis. Still, medical teams must recognize the possibility of injury and prevent it from happening.
- Cerebral palsy: Cerebral palsy causes damage to a child’s brain during labor and delivery. This injury will negatively affect a child’s balance, posture, and mobility throughout their entire lifetime.
- Broken bones: The bones of infants are extremely delicate and sometimes, they are not even fully formed at the time of labor and delivery. If a doctor does not properly use vacuums or forceps, or fails to properly guide the infant through the birthing canal, the child’s bones can break quite easily.
What Causes Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries are caused by medical negligence. The main ways doctors and nurses are careless in the delivery room are as follows:
- Improperly using forceps: When a child becomes stuck in the birth canal, or they are in an awkward position, forceps are sometimes necessary. Still, doctors should use these only as a last resort and they must always use them properly.
- Improperly using vacuum: A vacuum extractor can also help guide an infant through the birth canal. As with forceps, vacuum extractions are a last resort and they must be used properly when they are necessary.
- Delayed C-sections: A C-section is sometimes necessary when either an infant or mother is in distress. Medical staff must be able to immediately recognize when a C-section is needed and make sure the surgery is performed right away.
Our Birth Injury Lawyer in Bonita Springs Can Help Your Family
If your child has suffered harm, our Bonita Springs birth injury lawyer at Cardinal Law can help. We can investigate to determine the cause of injury and hold the appropriate party accountable for paying the damages your family deserves. Call us now at 239-610-0845 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to get more information.
