Child Birth Injury in Allentown, PA

Take all the classes. Read all the books. Get all the stories from family and friends that have walked this path before you. In the end, there’s nothing that can truly prepare you for being a parent. It’s a trial by fire. A learn by doing situation. Still, for all the nerves and anxiety, there’s nothing to compare to having your child look up at you with tiny hopeful eyes.

However, this moment can be dashed for many due to the negligence or malpractice of a careless medical staff. If you or your child has been injured during childbirth, you may want to seek out an experienced attorney in Allentown to help press your rights.

What Causes a Childbirth Injury?

Was a medical professional you trusted negligent and did damage occur as a result? If so, affected parents have a chance of bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation in Allentown, PA.

During any labor and delivery process, timing and action are two crucial elements. Sometimes an infant suffers a birth injury. It can mean that a medical practitioner either made a poor judgment call or failed to act appropriately. If the Allentown medical provider’s actions go against the standard of care, then it may fit the legal definition of negligence.

To prove birth injury, negligence must have a direct connection to the damage. One of the most unfortunate elements of childbirth injury is not discovering the effects right away. Some injuries are discernible immediately after they happen. However, things that affect the brain may not be evident until developmental milestones are not reached.

The Morning Call reports that a Lehigh County jury recently awarded $4 million in a birth injury suit. Dr. Gary C. Karounos was found guilty of negligence when he failed to perform a C-section during the natural delivery of Erin McCarthy. According to court documents the medical staff knew that Erin was carrying a larger than average child, but they still went through a natural delivery. This left Erin incontinent and unable to hold gainful employment.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Allentown. One of the following examples may apply to your circumstances.

  • Improper Vacuum Usage

Sometimes a mother has difficulties delivering a baby through the birth canal. Allentown medical professionals may intervene and use a vacuum to assist. This machine is a standard instrument that can help suction the baby down and out of the birth canal. The vacuum attaches to the baby’s head or shoulders. Nurses and doctors are responsible for placing it appropriately. However, sometimes the vacuum is not attached where it should be. This error can cause severe injury to the mother and the infant during childbirth.

  • Improper Use of Forceps

There are other options when a mother is having difficulty delivering her child. For example, the baby can be improperly positioned in the womb.

In this case, attending medical professionals may use forceps to help move a baby through the birthing canal. Appropriate use of forceps reduces oxygen deprivation. This tool also reduces the chances of fetal distress that can result in birth injuries.

The medical professionals that are birthing a child must use extreme care. The improper use of forceps can cause severe injuries to the head. Additionally, this device can also cause nerve damage in the neck or the chest.

  • Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition that occurs when the brain of a baby is not receiving enough oxygen. The most common cause before and during delivery is the umbilical cord becoming tangled around the baby’s neck.

This condition often occurs due to a damaged or infected placenta. Thankfully, most Allentown, Pennsylvania medical professionals can identify hypoxia well in advance. As a result, they can intercede to eliminate the chances of the infant or the mother facing harm.

However, if the professional medical staff does not take action quickly enough, asphyxiation may occur. This can result in causing a child to develop severe physical or mental disabilities. Accordingly, medical staff may be liable for any damages that happened.

  • Cesarean Section Delay

An emergency C-section may be necessary due to the infant’s fetal distress. This medical event occurs when the heartbeat of the infant drops because of the mother’s blood pressure. In addition, this condition can happen when there is a placental abruption or other breathing difficulties.

In truth, there are several reasons why a doctor may perform a C-section. For example, the baby could be in the wrong position or fail to descend into the birth canal. Another qualifying situation is when the mother has labored without dilation.

In these and other circumstances, the doctor may determine whether this procedure needs to happen. It may be the only way to safely birth the baby without further damage. But, the medical staff may wait too long to perform a cesarean. If so, the consequences for mother and child could be quite grave.

What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in Allentown?

Other types of medical neglect that could result in injuries to the child or the birth mother include:

  • Failing to perform sufficient prenatal testing
  • Not using labor-inducing drugs timely
  • Failing to diagnose or treat infections, umbilical cord entrapment, placental abruption, premature rupture of the membranes or placenta previa
  • Not addressing changes in the baby’s condition

Cord Compression

Cord compression occurs when the umbilical cord becomes stretched and compressed during labor, restricting blood flow to the infant and causing sudden short drops in the fetal heart rate. The American Pregnancy Association states that prolonged cord compression can lead to a buildup of CO2 in a child’s bloodstream, and possibly produce respiratory acidosis.

Failure to Perform Prenatal Testing

Lack of prenatal testing and education about the birthing process is a major cause of concern for women going through childbirth. There are many problems that, if caught early, can be thwarted before they become a danger. However, there is still room for improvement, even with proper testing. For example, the New York Times states that there are certain genetic tests that have proven to be wrong over 80% of the time in a blind sampling.

Why Should You Take Action for Your Child Birth Injury?

It is essential that any parent whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Allentown, take action to seek financial compensation. The most practical reason to pursue a childbirth injury lawsuit is to protect your financial future. A child and their mother may have to deal with a lifetime of setbacks and disabilities. The costs for treatment, medical equipment, and medications can overwhelm your budget quickly. As well, the trajectory of your life or your child’s can depend on pursuing civil action.

America’s Health Rankings states that Pennsylvania has an infant mortality rate of 5.7 deaths for every 1,000 live births that occur. There has been a drastic drop in infant mortality rate since 2009, dropping by 17%. In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has pledged to work toward dropping the rate even further for Allentown residents by 2030.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Allentown, Pennsylvania 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Allentown, you should take action. Find a local child birth injury lawyer to navigate the often difficult waters of birth injury lawsuits. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Pennsylvania state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

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