Compassionate
Legal Representation
The birth of a
child is one of the most defining moments in life. As most parents go to great
lengths to ensure that their child is born into this world happy and healthy,
they also expect that the medical professionals assisting them uphold their
obligation to provide proper and adequate care during pregnancy, delivery and
after care. When physicians, nurses or any other health care providers fail to
meet these standards of care, devastating and life altering birth injuries can
occur. While the emotional repercussions of birth injuries are a matter that is
difficult to address, parents and families victimized by medical negligence can
find solace in the fact that they have the legal right to pursue justice and
compensation for medical malpractice.
Despite the
prevalence of medical innovations, technology and clinical precautions, medical
professionals still make errors. Although risks are inherent in any procedure
or medical adventure, it is the legal obligation of medical professionals to
ensure that these risks are minimized as much as possible and that patients do
not suffer reasonably preventable harm. This means that any form of negligence,
carelessness or wrongful act can not only harm mothers and children during
birth, but also subject medical professionals to legal consequences and
financial liability. Inappropriate decisions, inaction, inattention and other
similar failings to uphold an expected standard of care are common examples of
negligence or medical malpractice.
Types
of Birth Injuries
Any type of
birth injury can severely impact the lives of parents, children and entire
families. While long-term financial costs are a legitimate concern in many
serious cases that require extensive medical procedures or care, the emotional
damages are often the most devastating. Having worked side by side with
countless families during these emotionally turbulent times, our Maryland
medical malpractice lawyer make every effort to treat you and your loved ones
with the compassion you deserve.
Common
types of birth injuries include:
- Fractures and bone
breaks
- Facial paralysis
- Forceps
lacerations
- Brain injuries
- Shoulder dystocia
- Brachial plexus
- Cerebral palsy
- Persistent
pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
Cerebral
Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a blanket term used to describe many disorders that affect a
child’s movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy is a permanent
disorder that cannot be cured. It is caused by damage to a baby’s brain during
development or early childhood. In many cases, it can be traced to something
that happened during or immediately after childbirth. Often, an oxygen
deficiency due to a difficult or prolonged birth is responsible, and in these
cases cerebral palsy may be the result of negligence or a poor decision on the
part of a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider.
Erb’s
Palsy
Erb’s palsy is a condition that affects a child’s ability to control the
movement of his or her arms. The cause of Erb’s palsy is brachial plexus
injury. The brachial plexus is the nerve bundle where nerves from the spine
connect with nerves from the arm. It can be damaged when too much force is
applied to the baby’s head, neck, or arms during birth. Sometimes children
recover from Erb’s palsy without surgery, but often it requires a nerve graft
that must be performed before the child reaches the age of one to increase the
likelihood of recovery. Unfortunately, surgery does not always guarantee full
recovery, and a child may be faced with a lifetime of disability.
Obtaining
Justice and Fair Compensation
Our team of medical
malpractice attorneys is intent on holding negligent health care providers
liable for the damages they caused. With billions of dollars in compensation
recovered for injured victims, our track record proves that we have the skills
needed to obtain justice and fair compensation on your behalf.
