Birth injuries occur in approximately 7 out of every 1000 births. The most common injuries are neurologic – they involve the brain or nervous system. Many are preventable; they occur because medical mistakes are made. The injuries may range from relatively minor – weakness in the hand or arm that can be addressed with therapy – to extremely severe. We have represented a number of children unable to walk, talk or care for themselves in any way because of medical malpractice.
The cause of birth injuries very often involves the failure to appropriately monitor the mother during pregnancy or the fetus during labor. Unfortunately, because our health care system is under stress and hospitals often do not have sufficient staff, tragic mistakes can and do occur.
If oxygen to the fetus is disrupted during labor and the problem is not recognized and addressed by doctors or nurses, long-term brain damage may occur. That child may then require life-long care.
A lawsuit may make it possible for the parents to get the help they need to provide around-the-clock care and therapy, which can improve the quality of life for both child and parents. We have helped many parents overwhelmed by the demands an unexpected birth injury can cause and we would be happy to help you or someone you know who is coping with this situation. The earlier we get the call, the more we may be able to do to help.