You count on your doctor to provide you with high-quality medical care. This is especially true for obstetricians who deliver babies and handle other pregnancy-related medical issues. If you or your spouse went into labor and the child suffered irreparable harm due to a preventable error, the negligent doctor should be held accountable. Whether your doctor was negligent during delivery or failed to perform certain tests after delivery, the end result could be the same: your child suffering through a debilitating, painful medical condition for the rest of their life.
The following is a list of some of the most common types of birth injuries that can be caused by medical malpractice:
- Erb’s Palsy: When the doctor uses too much force during delivery, the child can be catastrophically injured and later be afflicted with Erb’s palsy. This is a serious birth injury to the brachial plexus and can cause mobility problems later in life.
- Cerebral Palsy: This is a neurological disorder that involves permanent damage to the child’s brain. The most severe cases of cerebral palsy can be debilitating, causing the child to lose control of muscles and struggle to maintain balance.
- Bruising and Lacerations: Doctors need to be especially careful if they use forceps during delivery of a child. If the use of forceps is too forceful and makes aggressive contact with the child’s face or head, there might be bruising or even cuts.
- Cephalohematoma: Around one percent of all births result in infant cephalohematoma. This is a medical condition that involves bleeding under the child’s skull bone. The condition can be caused by the negligent use of birth-assisting tools such as forceps and vacuum extractors. Cephalohematoma typically heals within a few months. However, if the doctor fails to notice the warning signs of cephalohematoma and does not prescribe medication, the child’s condition may get worse.
If your child suffered a birth injury due to a negligent doctor, you should speak with a qualified medical malpractice lawyer immediately. Contact the NJ medical malpractice attorneys at Andres, Berger & Tran today for an initial case consultation.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
