Child Birth Injury in Jacksonville, FL

Are you debating on a lawsuit against a doctor or hospital in Jacksonville.

Florida Statutes set some strict limitations on when parents can start litigation. You have two years from discovering the injury or four years from the incident.

If you want to explore your options, we hope this guide provides some valuable information. Additionally, we can connect you with a local childbirth injury attorney. Give yourself a few minutes today to find out what they can do in your situation.

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 Jacksonville, FL.

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 Jacksonville 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.

There have even been significant problems with the administration of stillbirths. First Coast News reported on a lawsuit in 2021 that demonstrates this issue. It took Baptist Medical Center three weeks to process a cremation and death certificate. This devastating wait prompted litigation by the parents from Jacksonville.

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

• Clavicle Fracture

Clavicle fractures are more common than other types of broken bones in newborns in Jacksonville. The University of Florida identifies a strenuous vaginal birth as the primary cause. In particular, this injury happens when the infant emerges feet first from the birth canal.

A broken collarbone can be exceedingly painful. As a result, babies tend to hold the arm on the affected side close to their body. Thankfully, this fracture should heal itself without further treatment.

• Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia happens for the same reason as a clavicle fracture: an arduous vaginal delivery. However, this injury occurs in the nerves in the shoulder instead of the bones. Too much stress on the area can cause overextension and tears.

An article from American Family Physician defines shoulder dystocia as an obstetric emergency. It can lead to terrible consequences like hypoxia, hemorrhaging, and bladder damage. Generally, obstetricians in Jacksonville should use well-established birthing maneuvers to avoid this injury.

• Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is not a single injury but a collection of disorders. But, the University of Florida identifies brain and nervous system issues as the primary drivers.

Parents should know cerebral palsy can develop in the womb or within the first two years of life. Accordingly, a lawyer in Jacksonville needs the expertise to establish a direct link to malpractice.

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

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?

Duval County has an alarmingly high infant mortality rate compared to state and national averages. The most recent data has this statistic at 7.8 per 1,000 live births. In practice, this level of disparity indicates problems with obstetrics in hospitals in Jacksonville.

It is essential that any parent whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Jacksonville, 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.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Jacksonville, Florida 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Jacksonville, 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 Florida 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!