Child Birth Injury in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania.

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 Pennsylvania attorney to help you 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 Pennsylvania.

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 Pennsylvania 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 New York Post reports that the parents of a child in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania that was injured during childbirth, was awarded $42 million due to the gross negligence by the medical staff. The child received permanent brain damage when the doctors grabbed his head with forceps to remove him from the birth canal, even though such a drastic measure was not necessary.

Even further, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Pennsylvania. 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. Pennsylvania 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 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 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 Pennsylvania?

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.

Reducing Risk of Injury

America’s Health Rankings provides several steps that new parents can take to make sure that their child is as healthy as possible when entering into the world. These steps include:

  • Reducing maternal obesity
  • Improving sleep practices
  • Approving access to prenatal care
  • Eliminating use of alcohol or tobacco

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 Pennsylvania, 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. Pennsylvania has seen 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 by 2030.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Pennsylvania

If you expect birth injury medical malpractice in Pennsylvania, 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 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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