Having a baby is an exciting and happy event. However, such a wonderful event can become one of grief and suffering, possibly for years to come. Just like parents, healthcare professionals have a responsibility to help ensure the birth of a healthy baby. Unfortunately, many children suffer from birth injuries that may affect them and their parents, financially and emotionally, for the rest of their lives. When this type of injury occurs, you can seek financial recovery with the help of a Chattanooga birth injury lawyer. The experienced malpractice attorneys with our firm can help guide you through the claims process and ensure your claim is as strong as possible.
Causes of Birth Injuries
A birth injury is generally defined as trauma suffered by a baby during birth and is commonly caused by medical malpractice. This trauma can manifest in physical injuries or mental and functional injuries and can be caused by an infection during pregnancy, use or prescription of inappropriate medications, untimely delivery, or inappropriate or forceful use of equipment, such as forceps, during delivery.
Types of Birth Injuries
There are various types of birth injuries and genetic disorders, but some of the most common types that Chattanooga birth injury lawyers deal with include:
- Forcep bruising
- Cephalohematoma
- Shoulder dystocia
- Facial paralysis
- Umbilical cord entrapment
- Spina bifida
- Bell’s palsy
- Hyperbilirubinemia
- Cystic fibrosis
- Klumpke’s palsy
- Brain damage
- Fetal distress
What Are Common Causes of Birth Injuries?
Though many birth injuries are the result of medical negligence, doctor oversight, or malpractice during the birth process, some manifest during pregnancy due to poor pre-natal care or even genetic programming. In the case of birth injuries during pregnancy, it is the healthcare professional’s responsibility to properly screen and diagnose the medical condition so that it can be prevented if possible, appropriately treated, and so that parents can plan ahead for the well-being of their baby. Failure to diagnose a birth injury during pregnancy may constitute malpractice and the attending physician and/or the hospital or practice group for which the doctor works could be held liable as well.
What Are the Long-term Effects of a Birth Injury?
Newborn babies are very sensitive and vulnerable to any type of trauma or other adverse influence that may occur while they are being born. What would cause a simple bruise that heals in two days for an adult, could cause irreparable damage to a newborn. The effects of a birth injury are not limited to the early years of a child’s life, but may follow them throughout their adulthood, creating severe emotional and financial burdens for a family. Living with a birth injury is arduous and incurs substantial medical costs due to doctor’s visits, surgeries, medications, rehabilitative services such as physical therapy, and other necessary medical treatments. Birth injuries can also affect the mother’s physical and emotional health and well-being and can also be taken into account by a Chattanooga birth injury lawyer.
