Child Birth Injury in Honolulu, HI

Seeing your children grow is one of the great joys of life. They come into the world as a tiny human, and you get to be a part of the journey as they step into their lives. And when your child is just born, you can see their whole lives stretching in front of them. However, this journey could be much harder if your child is injured during childbirth due to negligence or medical malpractice. If this is the case, you may want to contact an experienced attorney in Honolulu to fight for your child.

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 Honolulu, HI.

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 Honolulu 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.

Hawaii News Now reports that a couple received a $38 million dollar settlement after their child was born with brain damage on Tripler Army Base. During s difficult delivery, the medical staff did not move as fast as they should have and delayed a C-section this caused the child to be born with significant brain damage, including seizures and cerebral palsy.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Honolulu. 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. Honolulu 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 Honolulu, Hawaii 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 Honolulu?

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

Uterine Rupture

While it is increasingly rare, Healthline reports that a uterine rupture during pregnancy is incredibly serious to both mother and child. This complication only occurs during vaginal delivery, and occurs when there is a tear in the mother’s uterus. This then causes the child to slip into the mother’s abdomen. If not handled quickly it can suffocate the child and cause pronounced bleeding for the mother.

Caput Succedaneum

During a long or difficult vaginal delivery, a pronounced swelling of the top of the child’s head can occur. This is often attributed to an early rupture of the membranes, or if there is too little amniotic fluid present. However, according to Medline Health Plus, this can also occur during an improper vacuum extraction of a child.

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 Honolulu, 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.

Honolulu residents should be as up to date as possible on trends in the state that could affect their health, or the health of their children. The CDC reports that the infant mortality rate for Hawaii is 4.9 deaths per every 1,000 live births. While this is below the national average, you may still be at risk from medical malpractice and negligence. If you experience such treatment, you may want to engage an experienced attorney in Honolulu.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Honolulu, Hawaii 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Honolulu, 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 Hawaii 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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