Child Birth Injury in Salt Lake City, UT

Many Salt Lake City residents dream of holding their child in their arms, and everything that comes with that moment. When you hold a child in your arms, it is like you are holding the future. And yet, some people feel robbed of their future if their child has been injured during the delivery process due to gross negligence or medical malpractice. If you have gone through such a scenario you may want to reach out to an experienced attorney in Salt Lake City.

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 Salt Lake City, UT.

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 Salt Lake City 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.

KSL.com reports that a local Utah woman died after giving birth to her 6th child in the state. Katrina Lawrence was 36 when she entered Utah Valley Regional Medical Center to give birth to her sixth child. Her doctors were aware that she had developed placenta previa, a condition that can cause the placenta to attach to other parts of the body. However, they didn’t fully understand the enormity of her condition until they performed a C-section and she began to hemorrhage. She later died in the hospital.

Beyond this, there are quite a few scenarios that may cause a child to sustain an injury while being born in Salt Lake City. 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. Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City, Utah 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 Salt Lake City?

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

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

The proper medical name for blood seeping into a child’s eye is a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The visual symptomology of this occurrence is characterized by red patches in the whites of a child’s eyes. This injury can be quite common, according to Childbirth Injuries, and does not always require medical intervention. Still, there are serious cases that need to be attended to. If left unchecked it can lead to permanent damage.

Cephalohematoma

The Birth Injury Help Center states that newborns can develop a condition where a small pool of blood forms just underneath the baby’s scalp. This is generally the result of too much pressure being put on the child’s head during a vaginal delivery. While these are rarely serious, if not properly monitored they can lead to other complications, such as infections or anemia.

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 Salt Lake City, 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.

According to the Utah Public Health and Data Resource, the current infant mortality rate for the state is 5.3 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births. This is just slightly under the national average of 5.6 infant deaths per every 1,000 live births. Still, if your child has been injured during delivery, you may want to engage the services of an experienced attorney in Salt Lake City.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah 

If you suspect child birth injury medical malpractice in Salt Lake City, 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 Utah 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!