If childbirth injuries like cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, or Erb’s palsy have marred your birth experience, contact a Portland medical malpractice attorney for representation. Childbirth is a time of great excitement, but the birthing process is fraught with potential dangers. Your obstetrician and other medical personnel must constantly monitor the condition of your baby to ensure that he or she can safely endure the trauma associated with birth. When medical care providers fail to provide a competent level of care, or make decisions that are not appropriate given the circumstances, the results can be disastrous.
Some common childbirth injuries include:
- Shoulder dystocia – this occurs when the baby’s head has been delivered but the shoulders become trapped within the birth canal. The physician must gently manipulate the baby to facilitate birth. Heavy tugging and pulling can result in nerve damage and in some cases a lack of oxygen to the brain and even cerebral palsy.
- Cerebral palsy – brain injury or abnormal development that results in difficulties with movement, muscle control, and gross and fine motor activities. Cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe and can be caused by trauma during childbirth, a lack of oxygen to the brain, or problems during prenatal development.
- Erb’s palsy – nerve injuries generally as a result of a traumatic birth that result in weakness, loss of sensation, and even paralysis of an arm.
If your child has one of these injuries, you may not know if your physician or other medical care provider was responsible. You may have been told you had a complicated childbirth, or that the doctor had to use forceps or vacuum extraction, but may not know if that has caused your infant’s injuries. Our experienced Portland medical malpractice attorney can work with you to help uncover if your physician or other care provider may be responsible. Together, our team will work with medical experts to analyze your case. We’ll review your medical records and listen to your account of your birth experience. And if we determine that your physician was negligent, we will fight to hold them accountable for the harm they caused.
If your child has injuries from shoulder dystocia or suffers from cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy, they will likely require ongoing medical care and therapies. In addition, they may not meet regular milestones at the expected time. Children with cerebral palsy may need a lifetime of care, in addition to surgeries and physical therapy. We understand no amount of money can possibly make up for your baby’s suffering, but at least you can rest assured that you can provide for your child’s needs and care. If your baby suffered from childbirth injuries, contact our Portland medical malpractice attorney today either online or by phone at (503) 862-8666.