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What are common birth injuries suffered?

On Behalf of | Sep 11, 2019 | Medical Malpractice

The birth of a baby is a very joyous event for parents in Massachusetts and elsewhere. While it is a positive and happy moment in the lives of parents, it is also a time where the unexpected could occur. Complications are not uncommon; however, when a medical professional acts quickly and properly, some harms and medical issues can be avoided. In contrast, when a medical professional makes an error or does not uphold their duty of care, this could result in significant harms to the mother, newborn or both.

While America is a developed country, there is an alarming rate of maternal deaths due to medical malpractice. Based on current data, roughly 60% of these deaths are preventable. The rate of birth injuries in the U.S. is also shockingly high, amounting to roughly 3 per hour.

What are common birth injuries suffered? While there are a variety of birth injuries that could occur during the labor and delivery process, this post will focus on four. The first is bone fractures and breaks. These commonly occur during breech deliveries. The next is facial paralysis. This can occur when there is extreme pressure on a newborn’s face. This could result in permanent damage.

The third is caput succedaneum, which is the swelling of the head. This can be the result of prolonged pressure on the baby’s head The fourth is cerebral palsy, which is commonly caused by a lack of oxygen or damage to the baby’s brain during delivery.

A birth injury can be a difficult and emotional event to overcome. In some matters, the impact of the injury will be long lasting, even causing permanent damage in some cases. Thus, it is important that those harmed by a birth injury explore their rights and options. A medical malpractice action could be a very beneficial step to take. This legal action not only seeks to hold a negligent medical professional accountable for the harms caused, but it also helps the injured patient recover compensation for their losses and damages suffered.