Collecting Compensation for Birth Injuries

Most people associate medical malpractice cases with botched surgeries or misdiagnoses. However, the reality is that thousands of people sustain preventable injuries when they are born. Fortunately, those who suffer injuries because of a physician’s error can collect compensation for their losses, even if the mistake occurred during a person’s pregnancy or during the birth itself. To speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney about your own case, please contact our legal team today.

Injuries that Occur During Childbirth

Many of the injuries sustained by infants at birth are the result of one of the following problems:

• A lack of oxygen, usually caused by umbilical cord compression;
• The improper use of birthing assistance tools, which can cause developmental damage;
• A failure to perform a timely C-section; and
• Failing to diagnose or treat infections.

Physician negligence during a child’s birth can also prove dangerous for the mother. For instance, failing to prevent or control hemorrhaging can lead to severe blood loss, which can endanger both the lives of the mother and child.

Injuries During Pregnancy

When a mother is misdiagnosed during pregnancy, both she and her child are put at risk. The most commonly misdiagnosed or undiagnosed problems include:

• Anemia;
• Infections;
• Diabetes;
• Placental abruption;
• Preeclampsia; and
• RH incompatibility.

Failing to diagnose these kinds of illnesses can affect a mother’s fertility in the future or could even result in a coma. Undiagnosed diabetes and preeclampsia are especially dangerous, as these problems could cause severe damage to the mother’s organs over time.

Potential Compensation

When an injured party can demonstrate that her child’s injury or her own injury can be traced to a physician’s negligence, she may be able to collect enough compensation to cover the cost of treatment. This is especially important in cases where a doctor’s error led to permanent brain damage in an infant, as the child will most likely require specialized care for the rest of his or her life. This could include expensive medications and therapies, as well as medical equipment and nursing care. In fact, many injuries are so severe that children will require 24 hour care for the rest of their lives. These costs can quickly add up to overwhelm a family’s finances, making it particularly important that victims seek compensation from the at-fault parties. Mothers who suffered severe side effects as a result of misdiagnosis or injuries sustained during childbirth may also be able to recover damages if they can demonstrate fault.

Call Today to Speak With an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney

Millions of people put their trust and often their lives in the hands of doctors every day. While most physicians use great care when treating patients, mistakes still can and do occur, which can have life changing consequences for victims, so if you or your child sustained an injury as a result of a doctor’s error, please call one of the compassionate and knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice attorneys at Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919. You can also reach us by sending an online message containing your contact information and a brief description of your case or by initiating a live chat with a member of our legal team.

Resource:

cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/facts.html