Birth Injury and Birth Defect Lawsuits – General Information
The birth of a child is something that every family remembers and cherishes. But when complications arise, that joy turns to concern for the newborn child. Complications during the delivery usually yield birth injuries that the family would least expect. If your child suffers from a birth injury due to the doctor's negligence or carelessness during delivery, you may be able to file a birth injury lawsuit.
Birth Injury Causes
It's not totally uncommon that women experience complications while giving birth. While some complications may not result in any injuries to the newborn child, some will lead to injuries when the child is born. Complications that may arise during childbirth are fetal distress or a breech birth, where the child is not coming through the birth canal head first. A birth injury can also occur due to a doctor's negligence, such as failure to diagnosis and treat certain conditions before the child is born. A child is also at risk for a birth injury if medical equipment is misused during delivery.
Types of Birth Injuries
One common condition that occurs due to a birth injury is cerebral palsy. If a child is born prematurely, suffers head trauma during delivery, or is deprived of oxygen while in the womb or during delivery, cerebral palsy may result.
While the brain is affected with cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy causes paralysis of one of the child's limbs. Mainly attributed to shoulder dystocia, another type of birth injury, Erb's palsy is treatable. Complications during birth can also lead to other birth injuries, such as spina bifida and brachial plexus.
Compensation in Birth Injury Lawsuits
If you believe your child has suffered a birth injury due to a doctor's negligence, you may be able to file a birth injury lawsuit and receive compensation. Compensation may include monetary damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering. Your birth injury lawyer can review your options with you and pursue damages for your child's injury.