Child Birth Injury in Utah

Very few people, if any, are ever truly prepared to be a parent.  Reading books, taking classes, asking advice from your parents and loved ones are all great things to do, but no one is ever fully prepared for how their lives will change once a child comes into the world. However, this becomes doubly so if you, your loved one, or your child is injured during childbirth.

Injuries during childbirth are not always the fault of the medical team. But if there has been incompetence or negligence at play, you should be well aware of your rights. If your child has been injured during childbirth, you may want to engage the services of an experienced attorney in Utah to help you press your rights.

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 Utah.

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 Utah 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.

KSL.com reports that a local Utah woman died after giving birth to her 6th child in the state. Katrina Lawrence of Provost was 36 when she entered Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. 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.

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

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

Sub-conjunctival Hemorrhage

The proper medical name for blood seeping into a child’s eye is a sub-conjunctival 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.

Danger to the Birth Mother

Pregnancy Birth and Baby states that nearly 75% of women who deliver vaginally experience some type of birthing trauma. Difficult births can be brought on by several factors, including, but not limited to,

  • Prolonged labor
  • Lare babies, weighing over 8 lbs, 13 oz.
  • Maternal Obesity
  • Premature Delivery
  • Breech Delivery

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 Utah, 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. Furthermore, America’s Health Rankings state that these numbers are even higher in impoverished communities.

Work With an Experienced Local Child Birth Injury Lawyer in Utah

If you expect birth injury medical malpractice in Utah, 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 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!

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