Child Birth Injury in Minnesota
Becoming a parent changes people. It is a singular moment that transforms an individual from irresponsible to responsible. From selfish to selfless. From living a life for themselves, to living a life for someone else. It is a seminal moment.
This moment can be dashed, however, if your newborn child receives injury due to medical malpractice or negligence. Fractures, paralysis, and even death of the child is not unheard of in Minnesota. There could also be complications with the mother’s recovery. If you have experienced a scenario such as this, you may want to contact an experienced Minnesota attorney to help fight for your family.
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 Minnesota.
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 Minnesota 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.
The Star Tribune reports that a Minnesota woman was awarded $9 million in a childbirth injury lawsuit in 2018. The average birth weight is 7.7 pounds, but Sirena Samuleson of Bradford, Minnesota gave birth to a son weighing 10.5 pounds at Allina Health Center. The medical professional in the room used excessive force to tray and pull the child from the birth canal, resulting in a broken arm, as well as torn tendons and nerves.
Even further, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Minnesota. One of the following examples may apply to your circumstances.
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Improper Vacuum Usage
Sometimes a mother has difficulties delivering a baby through the birth canal. Minnesota 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.
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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.
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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 Minnesota 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.
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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.
What Are Some Other Possible Causes of Childbirth Injury in Minnesota?
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
Shoulder Dystocia
According to the March of Dimes, shoulder dystocia is a birthing trauma that occurs when one or both of the baby’s shoulders become stuck in the mother’s vagina during the birthing process. This is hard to predict or detect until birth starts, but there are known risk factors such as gestational diabetes, gaining too much weight during the pregnancy, or macrosomia.
Growth Plate Fractures
Very Well Health lists a bevy of injuries that can occur with infants during childbirth. One of these is a fracture to the growth plate. The area of most rapid growth of the bones begins as softer cartilage and is more prone to injury. These injuries do not show up on an x-ray.
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 Minnesota, 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.
The Minnesota Department of Health records that each year around 350 infants die in the neonatal phase of life. This puts the infant mortality rate for the state at 4.5 deaths per every 1,000 live births. While there has been a 2% decrease in infant mortality from 2009 to 2019, this is of little solace if your child has been injured during childbirth.
If your child has received an injury due to negligence or malpractice, it may be your best move forward to engage the services of an experienced attorney in Minnesota.
Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Minnesota
If you expect birth injury medical malpractice in Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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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