1 in every 9,714 babies are born with a birth injury in the United States. Medical negligence is often to blame for injuries to the mother or newborn during pregnancy of birth. While some injuries heal, others result in permanent damage and disability. By being aware of the signs, parents can help stop preventable medical mistakes occurring and avoid the lifelong emotional and financial hardship that often results.
Types of medical negligence
In most cases, medical negligence during pregnancy often involves failure to diagnose problems in the mother or unborn child. High-risk conditions like infection, diabetes, and preeclampsia must be screened for during pregnancy to help ensure a safe delivery. If these conditions aren’t diagnosed and treated, the mother may experience heart issues, liver failure, or seizures, while the baby can also sustain permanent brain injury. Alternatively, medical negligence during birth may be caused by impatient or inexperienced staff. It can include: misuse of forceps or vacuum tools; failure to monitor the baby’s heartbeat and pick up fetal distress; or failure to perform an emergency C-section.
Impact of medical negligence
Medical negligence can cause immediate harm to the baby like infection, bone fractures, high or low blood pressure, nerve damage, bruising, swelling, and brain bleeds. The mother, on the other hand, may experience short-term effects like blood loss, loss of bladder control, severe uterine or vaginal ruptures, or extremely low or high blood pressure. If these short-term issues aren’t immediately treated, damage can worsen and become potentially life-threatening or permanent. Resulting permanent birth injuries to the baby commonly include cerebral palsy, erb’s palsy, and spinal cord injury. Birth Injury Claims relating to hospital related injuries can be made through a solicitor to get you the compensation you deserve for you and your child.
Steps after medical negligence
Medical negligence during childbirth in any form has a significant impact on the infant and family. Fortunately, lawsuit compensation may be available to families affected by medical negligence, JJS Justice explains. However, there’s a limited time frame to file claims for medical negligence cases. Consulting with an experienced attorney can help you act fast to prove negligence occurred and pursue a legal claim. Also, depending on your child’s condition, therapy, surgery, assistive devices, mobility aids, and medication are also available to help improve your child’s quality of life.
Medical negligence and birth injuries are distressing, life-changing, and often preventable. If parents do experience medical negligence during pregnancy or childbirth, birth injury compensation can help cover the costs of lifelong medical bills and help improve quality of life for the child.
