Rhode Island Birth Injuries Attorney

Medical Malpractice is one of the causes of traumatic injuries during birth.

The birth of a child is one of the miraculous wonders many have the privilege to witness in their lifetimes. When a mother or child suffers a birth injury, families are often left bewildered, wondering how and why such a tragedy occurred. Many birth injury situations involve unforeseeable complications that must be treated as best as possible when they occur. In other situations, a birth injury is preventable and may be the result of medical error, negligence, or malpractice.

Birth injury may be the result of a complication that developed during pregnancy. Maternal or fetal infections and health conditions; Rh incompatibility between the mother and child; maternal drug, tobacco, or alcohol use; and other prenatal complications greatly increase the risk that a child or mother will suffer a birth injury. Many of these risks can be identified during a woman's pregnancy and treated to decrease or prevent of a subsequent birth injury.

Improper dating of a pregnancy is also a birth injury risk factor. The large gestational size of a baby's body or head in a post-mature delivery can increase the risk that a child will suffer a birth injury. When a child is born prematurely they are also at risk for birth injury complications. In some cases medical professionals cannot intercede to prevent pre- and post-mature deliveries. These birth injury complications may also be the result of a medical mistake or negligence.

Complications during childbirth can also result in birth injury. Physicians who employ medical birthing techniques, such as forceps or vacuum delivery, with unnecessary force run the risk of causing a birth injury as a result of their malpractice. There are a number of birth complications, such as shoulder dystocia, abnormal birth presentation, and fetal anoxia, which can lead to a serious birth injury if a medical professional does not respond appropriately.

Many types of birth injury are mild and heal without medical intervention. In other cases, birth injury results in severe and permanent injury or even death. Extensive medical treatment may be required to correct a birth injury. Erb's palsy is one example of a common birth injury that may resolve spontaneously or may require significant medical intervention. Cerebral palsy is a serious and permanent birth injury that cannot be resolved through medical attention. A patient with cerebral palsy can benefit from a comprehensive treatment program to manage the symptoms of his/her condition. This is often a lifelong process that can be emotionally and financially devastating to a birth injury victim and their loved ones.

When medical malpractice is the cause of a child or mother's birth injury, the responsible party can be held liable for the victims' losses and suffering. If you would like to learn more about medical malpractice birth injury cases, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced birth injury attorney who can evaluate your case to determine your legal rights and options.