Child Birth Injury in Illinois

Has your family suffered through a traumatic live birth recently?

WLH in Chicago reports childbirth-related deaths are at an alarming high in Illinois. In particular, minority communities have been at the highest risk.

Despite denials of coverage or liability, you do not have to suffer alone to get what your family needs. Even minor incidents in the hospital can lead to a lifetime of suffering and medical needs. Evaluate your situation with us today, and we can set you up with a consultation with a nearby attorney.

What Causes a Childbirth Injury?

While enduring delivery, was a medical professional negligent towards you and did damage occur as a result? If so, affected parents have a chance of bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit for compensation in Illinois .

During the labor and delivery process, timing and action are two crucial elements. Sometimes an infant suffers a birth injury. This can mean that a medical practitioner either made a poor judgment call or failed to act appropriately. However, if the Illinois 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 come, and are not reached.

Families that start litigation have received generous compensation from their local juries. A report from the Chicago Tribune documented a $15 million settlement for a Sauk Village family. These damages include payments for medical bills and ongoing needs for treatment.

Even further, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Illinois . 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. Illinois medical professionals may intervene and use a vacuum to assist. The 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. Attending medical professionals may use forceps to help move it 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.

Still, 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 Illinois 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 an infant 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.

• Kernicterus

Kernicterus is a condition that can happen when jaundice goes untreated. Ultimately, this becomes a neurological disorder that causes damage due to too much bilirubin in the blood. Symptoms that warrant a trip to the emergency room include:

• Unusual eye movements

• Stiff or limp body

• Constant high-pitched crying

• Arched body position

As you may assume, kernicterus is preventable as long as medical staff in Illinois are not negligent. But, not recognizing or doing anything about jaundice can lead to this problem.

• Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)

PVL typically happens to newborns, and it represents the death of small areas of the brain. In particular, it creates holes around the fluid-filled ventricles. As usual, a significantly higher risk exists in premature babies than others. Infection or injuries during childbirth are the most common causes of this injury in Illinois hospitals.

• Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)

While IVH is more likely with premature babies, it can happen in other circumstances. The primary cause is the sensitive nature of the blood vessels in a newborn’s brain. When they become damaged or rupture, it can cause significant issues during the first days or weeks of life. The symptoms that indicate the need for medical attention are:

• Lethargic behavior

• Pauses in breathing (apnea)

• Sleeping too much

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

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

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 Illinois , 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.

Furthermore, the CDC considers birth complications to be common, costly, and critical. A baby is born with a defect every four and a half minutes in the U.S. When these issues happen, you should not have to foot the bill for a lifetime.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Illinois

If you expect birth injury medical malpractice in Illinois , you should take action. Cases can vary sharply depending on the state in which the injury occurs. 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 Illinois 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!