The safety surrounding pregnancy and labor is always progressing. Procedures and protocols improve along with the technology available, so there tend to be fewer risks associated with childbirth as a whole. However, unfortunately, birth injuries are not entirely avoidable, and some children suffer injuries that impact their entire lives.
While some birth injuries are unavoidable, others are a product of medical malpractice and could have been theoretically prevented if the hospital staff and processes were competent enough. If your child has suffered due to birth injuries, you may have considered whether you think that their injuries were avoidable. If you think that the injuries could have been prevented by hospital staff, you may be able to make a medical malpractice claim. The following are some of the most common birth injuries that are associated with medical malpractice.
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a relatively common birth injury that is permanent. It can be caused by premature birth. The severity of cerebral palsy varies broadly, so while some of those affected are able to lead relatively normal lives, others experience severe difficulties. Symptoms of cerebral palsy include a decreased range of motion, involuntary muscle movements, and delays in speech and intellectual development.
Facial paralysis
Excessive pressure during childbirth can cause injuries to the baby. This can cause the baby to experience facial paralysis, which can mean that one side of their face is completely paralyzed. In many cases, competent doctors can prevent babies from being subjected to excessive pressure during childbirth.
Birth asphyxia
There are many reasons why a child could struggle to gain adequate oxygen during childbirth. This oxygen deprivation could occur before, during or after delivery. If the infant is deprived of oxygen for too long, they may suffer damage to organs, including the brain, and this could cause life-altering developmental issues. There are many ways that oxygen deprivation can be prevented by hospital staff, and the baby’s oxygen levels should always be closely monitored.
If you think that your child suffered unnecessary birth injuries due to hospital negligence, this will likely be very distressing for you. By holding the hospital liable, you can prevent such malpractice from happening again, and you may be able to gain damages.
