Children whose doctors mishandle them during birth are affected from permanent, debilitating injuries. Typically, such things happen when their doctors have a problem with the delivery. This could mean that there were complications during the birth or how the doctor simply mishandled the newborn throughout the delivery or shortly after birth.
Some of the most common injuries involve babies’ lungs and brains. Many babies have trouble breathing directly after birth. This may be because of a birth defect or because a doctor fails to monitor a baby’s breathing, allowing him or her struggle to breathe for a few minutes. This, in turn, may affect other parts in the body.
Additionally, since babies have soft skulls, their brains are in danger of suffering trauma. A brain injury is more likely to occur when a doctor misuses forceps during delivery or forces the child through the birth canal. Brain injuries usually affect either cognitive or motor skills, however in some cases they might actually affect both.
Many of the conditions that could arise from these injuries are facial paralysis, cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, shaken baby syndrome, and brain and spinal damage. Some of these conditions are treatable with surgery and rehabilitation. Others may be permanent. Still others may be deadly, depending on severity of the injuries.
Parents of children who have suffered birth injuries may be entitled to financial compensation to help cover the medical expenses associated with their children’s conditions as well as for the pain and suffering these particular injuries put the affected families through.
Before pursuing compensation, individuals should seek experienced lawyer for assistance with building and fighting their cases.
