It is estimated that seven out of every 1,000 infants are born with a birth injury. Birth injuries are most often avoidable, resulting from a physician’s failure to use reasonable care or make timely judgments during the birthing process. If your baby was born with complications as a result of a physician’s actions or failure to act properly, then you may be entitled to compensation.
With over 30 years of experience representing clients in medical malpractice cases, our team of attorneys has held countless physicians accountable for their wrongful actions. If your child suffered birth injuries, our Harrisburg, PA, birth injury lawyers are ready to assist you in filing your malpractice claim.
Causes of Infant Birth Injuries
It is up to your obstetrician or physician to assess the status of your labor or delivery to determine if and which intervention is best for you. A child may suffer birth injuries for any of the following reasons:
Failure to Perform a C-Section
An obstetrician closely monitors an infant to determine if surgical intervention is warranted. Generally speaking, a Cesarean section (C-section), which involves cutting incisions into the abdomen to deliver the baby, may be recommended in the following situations:
- Labor is not progressing normally
- The baby is in distress
- You are carrying multiples (twins, triplets, or more)
- There is a prolapsed umbilical cord
- The mother has an underlying health issue
- There is a rupture of the uterine or placental membranes
If a physician fails to act in time, a baby may be deprived of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia), potentially causing the infant to suffer from Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Severe cases can cause delays in neurological development, Cerebral Palsy, and even death.
Complications from Vacuum-Extraction Delivery
A vacuum-extraction delivery may be used in situations when labor is not progressing or the baby is in distress. The vacuum extraction consists of a suction cap applied to the baby’s head. The suction cup is attached to either a mechanical or electrical pump, which often provides the needed traction to help the mother push the baby out.
Even if your labor is stalled, vacuum-assisted delivery cannot be used in every case. An infant must be positioned headfirst with the head low enough in the birth canal (preferably one to two centimeters below the spine).
Vacuum extraction does come with risks to the infant, including swelling or bruising to the scalp and pooling of blood between the baby’s scalp and skull (cephalohematoma). More serious complications can include skull fractures, bleeding in or around the brain (intracranial hemorrhage), and blood pooling within the connective tissue between the skull and scalp (subgaleal hemorrhage).
Pitocin Induced Delivery
If your labor is not moving along as planned, your physician may administer Pitocin. Pitocin forces the body to release prostaglandins, causing the uterus to contract more frequently and intensely (known as “hyperstimulation.”)
Like any drug, Pitocin comes with certain risks. If Pitocin is administered before the baby has moved down lower in the birth canal, the uterus contractions may deprive the child of oxygen. Even if your labor is further along, high doses of Pitocin have been shown to cause brain injuries and heart problems in infants.
The Impact of Negligence in the Medical Field
We rely on physicians to use their medical judgment to care for us, yet medical professionals do not always meet this expected standard of care. No matter the reason for a physician’s misstep, the ramifications of a physician’s negligence can result in a child having to live with permanent disabilities.
A physician’s actions have more than just a physical and emotional impact on your child; they also can be financially detrimental. At Marzella & Associates, we have helped families of children who have suffered birth injuries recover damages for surgeries, procedures, and specialist visits, as well as lost income.
Speak with a Harrisburg Birth Injuries to the Child Lawyer
A child who suffers a birth injury may suffer developmental delays, making them unable to walk, run, or play. If your baby sustained a birth injury, do not hesitate to contact our Harrisburg, PA, birth injury lawyers immediately. To speak with a member of our legal team, contact us online or by phone. We offer free consultations scheduled at your convenience.