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Suit: Doctors fail to get birth weight and cause permanent injury

On Behalf of | May 28, 2014 | Birth Injuries

Prenatal care is an essential part of ensuring a healthy pregnancy and baby. Many women in North Adams go to doctors in order to obtain pertinent information, such as the infant’s heart rate or growth progress. Gathering this kind of data can give a doctor clues as to what to expect during a delivery, lowering the risk of a baby being injured during birth. Failing to assess vital information can have devastating results, as a recent incident reminds us.

A hospital and several physicians are on the receiving end of a medical malpractice lawsuit for the part they allegedly played in an infant’s injuries, which include minimal use of his hand, arm and shoulder as well as excessive pain. The child’s mother, from Illinois, went at a hospital to give birth to her son in August 2011. The lawsuit alleges that the medical personnel did not take into account the baby’s projected weight. As a result, the woman was able to birth the child’s head but, due to the baby’s large size, his shoulder became trapped.

The lawsuit claims that physicians put too much pressure on the baby during the delivery, which caused the irreversible damage to his nervous system. The defendants named in the suit are also accused of failing to offer a Cesarean section to the mother. The woman has asked for $50,000 in compensation.

A birth injury can have permanent consequences that will forever affect the quality of life for both the child and his or her parents. Anytime medical negligence has caused an injury, it is important to seek the legal guidance of an attorney who can help to file a claim seeking compensation.

Source: The Madison-St. Clair Record, “Anderson Hospital and doctors named in med mal complaint,” May 2, 2014