What are the Top Medical Errors that Cause Birth Injuries?

Newborn birth injuries are most often caused by these medical errors

Welcoming a new child into the world should be a time filled with joy, excitement and wonder—and, in most childbirths, this is the experience parents will have. Unfortunately, this joyful process can be disrupted by a complication that sometimes results from a doctor’s negligence.

Maternity medical negligence is an umbrella term that refers to the failure of health care providers to provide the expected level of care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, which leads to harm to the mother or baby. This negligence can be the result of actions (like medication errors) or inactions (like failure to adequately monitor the mother and baby during pregnancy or birth).

It’s crucial that parents who feel that their baby was harmed by a medical provider during childbirth know their rights and speak to a birth injury medical malpractice attorney to get the compensation they are entitled to so they can provide the best possible care for their child.

It’s also vital to be aware of what kind of injury can occur when a medical error takes place. When a doctor or other licensed medical professional fails to act in the best interest of their patient— which in the case of childbirth includes both mother and child—injuries can have life-long effects.

Birth injuries can range from mild to severe. Some of the most common examples include:

While not all birth injuries are indicative of medical malpractice, having an expert review the circumstances and details of your case can ensure that if your provider was negligent in your child’s care, you get fair compensation. An attorney with experience in this complex area of law will help you understand the rights afforded to your injured child.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of medical malpractice that result in birth injuries:

Failure to spot fetal distress

During labor, a doctor or medical provider may notice signs of fetal distress in the baby’s vital signs. These signs often indicate that the baby is potentially being deprived of oxygen. When a physician fails to notice signs of distress and take immediate action, this can lead to long-term harm to the child.

Delayed delivery

A birth injury can happen when a doctor fails to deliver a baby in a reasonable period of time. Prolonged labor puts a baby at higher risk. When a doctor fails to recognize non-productive labor or take steps to speed up this process, permanent injury can occur to both baby and mother alike. For example, some steps a doctor should take in a prolonged delivery can include medication-induced labor or ordering an emergency cesarean section for the health of the child.

Improper use of forceps

Some doctors use forceps during childbirth, which are devices used to maneuver a baby’s head through the birth canal quickly. However, the physician may place too much pressure on the baby’s skull, potentially leading to significant and permanent brain damage. Improper use of forceps by a doctor during delivery can also result in other birth injuries including nerve damage and extensive bruising.

Using too much force during delivery

Shoulder dystocia is another serious medical condition that is a common reason why a doctor or medical provider may pull too forcefully. This is a serious situation where a baby gets stuck in the birth canal, and the condition should be quickly recognized by the medical staff to prevent further complications, including damage to the brachial plexus nerves that can cause Erb’s palsy (weakening or paralyzing the child’s arms/hands). If your doctor has improperly utilized delivery aids or used too much force, they may be directly responsible for birth injuries that result.

Failure to prevent hypoxia

Medical errors are also commonly to blame for many cases of cerebral palsy. When a doctor assists with difficult labor and birth, the improper use of instruments designed to aid the process can cause or worsen a birth injury. For instance, when a doctor applies too much pressure while using a vacuum extractor, it can cause brain damage during delivery. Doctors should be very aware of the limits of such tools.

A lack of oxygen to the baby may also result from breech birth. If your physician failed to recognize this presentation and didn’t act quickly to perform a cesarean delivery, this may be considered medical malpractice.

When to consult a birth injury attorney

The vast majority of birth injuries caused by medical malpractice can be summed up simply. When your doctor fails to act quickly and appropriately to ensure a safe and healthy birth, and a birth injury results, then malpractice has occurred.

Medical errors can include failure to monitor a baby’s well-being during labor, neglecting to recognize a risk while performing monitoring, as well as the improper use of tools intended to assist with delivery. These are the most common examples of how a doctor’s care (or lack thereof) may lead to lifelong harm and disability for your child, but there are many other forms of medical errors that constitute malpractice.

If you believe your child’s birth injury was the result of medical negligence, meet with a birth injury attorney who can help you fight for justice. Your baby will need extensive care and you will need skilled representation to help guide you through the process and inform you of your rights.