There are many different types of birth injury that can occur when a physician or labor and delivery attendant makes a mistake. Most birth injury attorneys handle cases where a child’s injury is severe enough to require extensive treatment measures costing thousands or even millions of dollars. In many cases, the victims will require a lifetime of medical care, including surgeries, adaptive living equipment, counseling, medication, and physical, speech, and occupational therapies.
Birth injuries may include any of the following:
- Birth brain injury — Brain damage can affect a child’s cognitive and physical abilities, causing a wide range of problems depending on which part of the brain was affected.
- Brachial plexus birth injuries — Injury to a baby’s brachial plexus, the shoulder nerves, can cause loss of movement or weakness in the arm.
- Shoulder dystocia — Shoulder dystocia is a potentially life-threatening complication where one or both of the baby’s shoulders fail to enter the mother’s pelvis during birth.
- Cerebral palsy — Cerebral palsy is a group of brain and nervous system dysfunctions that can have serious physical and developmental repercussions.
- Erb’s palsy — Erb’s palsy is a type of arm paralysis that results from injury to the nerves of the arm.
- PPHN — Persistent pulmonary hypertension is a circulatory system disorder that can result from lack of oxygen to a baby’s brain.
- Brain damage — Lack of oxygen to the brain and mishandling of the child during delivery can create many physical and mental issues for a newborn.
- Bone fractures and breaks — Bone injuries as a result of aggressive touch may cause serious bone growth problems.
- Cranial and spinal cord injury — A child’s entire network of movement and bodily function messaging is housed by the spine and controlled by the brain. When cranial and spinal cord injuries occur, the results can mean death or permanent disability.
- Infant hematoma — A hematoma is bleeding in the brain caused by physical trauma.
- Asphyxia — Asphyxia is caused by lack of oxygen to a baby’s brain and can result in severe organ damage.
- Umbilical cord strangulation — Failing to properly treat umbilical cord problems during labor can result in brain damage or death.
- Facial paralysis — Permanent facial paralysis can occur when a child suffers nerve injury during delivery.
If you would like to learn more about birth injuries and your legal rights, please contact the Goldwater Law Firm, PC today.
