Skilled Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorneys Holding Health Care Providers Responsible for Birth Injuries
Dedicated Ohio advocates making negligent doctors pay for injuries to newborns
As parents, you place the health and well being of your newborn in the hands of doctors, nurses and health care providers. You rely upon them to use good judgment and training during, or near, the time of delivery of your child to prevent birth injuries. The Ohio birth injury attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm are dedicated to fighting for the compensation and resources families need and deserve to provide for the long-term care of a child injured during birth. When the health care providers in whom you place your faith and trust make mistakes that result in birth injuries, you deserve to know the truth about what happened. Our team of medical malpractice lawyers make sure you get straight answers to questions about your child’s condition.
Birth defects distinguished from birth injuries
Some health problems in newborns are the result of genetic abnormalities characterized as birth defects. Birth defects might also be caused by health issues experienced by the mother while she was pregnant.
Health care providers are reluctant to attribute a child’s medical condition to their mistakes or negligence. Doctors or nurses might even go so far as to characterize a birth injury as a birth defect to avoid having responsibility fall upon them. Sometimes, the only way to get to the truth is by having the medical records reviewed and analyzed by attorneys whose sole focus is is an objective analysis of what really happened and what should have happened.
Common birth injuries
A birth injury is usually defined as an injury or trauma at or around the time of delivery that causes impairment to a bodily function or structure. Common examples of birth injuries include:
- Asphyxia : This is a lack of oxygen to the brain of an infant either during or immediately after birth. Asphyxia can cause permanent damage, including developmental disabilities.
- Nerve damage: Damage to nerves near the neck can happen during birth if the child’s shoulder is obstructed by the mother’s pelvic bone, and doctors apply too much force or pressure trying to dislodge it. The condition caused by the damage to the nerves is called Erb’s palsy and may result in the permanent loss of use of the affected arm.
- Injuries to the head and skull : The use of forceps during a delivery is a common procedure, but when the forceps are improperly used, they can cause fractures or compression of the skull, bleeding within the brain, or swelling of the brain. Conditions that may result include seizure disorder, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, and impaired physical and intellectual development.
Failure of doctors and nurses to react appropriately when complications arise
Labor and delivery can be a difficult and stressful time, not only for parents, but also for doctors and nurses, who must react quickly and appropriately to rapidly changing circumstances and conditions. Situations may arise in which mistakes or delays by a health care professional can cause injuries to the child. Examples of medical errors during and prior to delivery include:
- Delays in performing a C-section
- Vaginal birth complications
- Failure to diagnose fetal distress
- Improper use of forceps during delivery
- Excessive force or pressure used during delivery
- Failure to recognize and react to vaginal bleeding from uterine rupture or placental abruption
- Failure to recognize placenta previa or other placental abnormalities
- Prescribing medications to the mother during pregnancy that are harmful to the infant
Contact premier Ohio birth injury attorneys
The Ohio birth injury attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm are passionate about holding doctors and health care providers accountable when their negligence causes birth injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation and case review with one of our trusted attorneys. Call us at 216-687-0900, or contact us online.