NOTE: Our law firm does not handle medical malpractice cases. This article is for informational purposes only. Information found in the article does not constitute as formal legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship.
Birth injuries are devastating for parents and their newborns. Injuries caused during a Cesarean birth (C-Section) can cause debilitating impairments and lifelong disabilities. Sadly, most birth injuries are preventable because they are caused by medical malpractice—negligence and carelessness by medical professionals.
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Common C-Section Birth Injuries in Baltimore, MD
Delayed C-sections and errors during a C-section can cause one or more injuries for the infant. In some cases, the mother’s life may also be in danger when a doctor fails to perform a timely C-section or makes C-section errors.
Common C-section injuries include:
- Facial nerve palsy
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Brain injuries
- Cephalohematoma
- Erb’s palsy
- Brachial plexus
- Organ perforation
- Autism
- Bone fractures
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Wrongful death
Delayed C-sections can result in physical, emotional, and developmental delays. In addition, a child may suffer a lifelong disability because of C-section injuries and mistakes. Many of these injuries could have been avoided had a doctor made a prompt decision to perform a C-section.
What Causes C-Section Injuries and Who is Responsible?
The physician is ultimately responsible for deciding when to perform a Cesarean section. However, nurses, other medical staff, and the hospital may also be named in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Common reasons for C-sections injuries include:
- The hospital may be overcrowded, limiting the time doctors and nurses spend monitoring mothers and infants during labor
- The overcrowding could limit the availability of an operating room
- The physician failed to monitor the baby and mother during labor and delivery adequately
- The doctor used poor medical judgment by missing the warning signs of fetal distress or choosing to ignore those signs
- Miscommunication between the doctor and nurses
- Surgical mistakes and errors made during the Cesarean section
A doctor may have just a few minutes to deliver a baby to avoid birth injury from oxygen deprivation, prolapsed umbilical cord, uterine rupture, and other delivery complications. However, miscommunication, second-guessing, and errors in judgment can have dire consequences for the mother and child.
Damages You and Your Child Could Receive for a C-Section Birth Injury in Baltimore, MD
The damages caused by a Cesarean section injury can be high. Permanent impairments may require ongoing medical and personal care, which can be expensive.
It is crucial that you seek full compensation for all damages, including:
- Lifelong personal and medical care for disabilities and impairments
- Cost of medical treatment and therapies
- Pain and suffering experienced by the mother and the infant, including lifelong pain and suffering caused by permanent injuries
- The parent’s lost earnings from missed work while caring for a child with special needs
- The child’s future loss of income and opportunities
- Punitive damages for gross negligence and intentional wrongdoing
The amount of money you receive for a C-Section injury claim will never compensate you or your child for the pain and suffering caused by medical malpractice. However, a settlement or jury verdict can provide the financial stability your child needs as they continue to receive treatment for a Cesarean section injury.
Birth injuries are more common than many people realize. Many things can go wrong during labor and delivery, especially when doctors, nurses, and staff members are not paying attention.
If you believe you have a medical malpractice claim, call us. We can refer you to a lawyer who handles these cases.