Hospitals, nurses, obstetricians, and other medical providers and facilities are held to a certain standard of care.
Failure to meet this standard of care can result in serious injuries or even death.
If you or your child was harmed during the labor or delivery process, you may be eligible to file a claim for medical malpractice against the negligent party.
You and your family should not have to suffer any more than you already have, and may be entitled to compensation.
Contact the New Mexico medical malpractice lawyers at Poulos & Coates today to schedule a free consultation.
What Is a Birth Injury?
There could be multiple responses to the question, What is a birth injury?. Birth injuries can affect either the mother or the baby.
These are physical injuries experienced during the birthing process. In newborn babies, this may also be referred to as “neonatal birth trauma.”
What Is the Most Common Birth Injury?
Modern advancements in medical technology have made most birth injuries to newborns almost entirely preventable.
When injuries occur during birth, they are likely due to some form of medical malpractice. There are several types of birth injuries that may occur.
Erb’s Palsy
This type of injury impacts the nerves of a baby when the baby’s shoulder and neck are stretched or pulled on during delivery.
Oxygen Deprivation
This is one of the most serious birth injuries. Lack of oxygen for newborns can lead to brain damage, developmental challenges, and even death.
Brain Swelling
If a medical professional mishandles the baby’s head, it could result in brain swelling. This type of birth injury is most common in head-first deliveries.
Broken Collarbone
A medical professional could potentially break or even shatter the baby’s collarbone if they fail to consider the safest options for delivery.
For most hospitals, collarbone breaks is the answer to, “What is the most common type of birth injury?”
Perinatal Asphyxia
This condition can affect the child’s ability to walk and move normally. It is related to broken nerves that run upward from the spine to the neck, shoulders, and hand. In some cases, it can cause permanent paralysis.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Any damage to the fragile spinal cord of a newborn could result in loss of motor function or paralysis.
Birth Injuries to the Mother
Many birth injuries to the mother occur because she is not monitored correctly. If her blood pressure is too low or too high, it could result in complications or even seizures. Some medications may not react well and should be dosed carefully.
There are several strategies for a smooth childbirth. Some mothers may choose to use an epidural to reduce the pain of labor, but an improperly placed epidural can have long-term impacts.
Cesarean deliveries are a full surgical procedure, and can certainly cause injury if not done correctly or kept sterile.
Contact a New Mexico Birth Injury Lawyer Today
Medical malpractice is a serious problem with serious consequences. The team at Poulos & Coates focuses on this area of law so that you can be confident that you are getting the best possible legal representation.
We have obtained over $300 million dollars in gross recoveries for our clients, and we look forward to helping you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation.
Greig Coates, M.D., J.D.
Over the last thirty years, Dr. Coates has successfully represented plaintiffs in every conceivable type of medical malpractice lawsuit–from single-physician cases to complex litigation involving over a dozen doctors and several hospitals. Dr. Coates has taken several thousand physician depositions in his career involving every known physician specialty and sub-specialty, and almost as many depositions involving hospital personnel such as nurses, techs, and administrators. He has tried several dozen cases to successful verdicts.
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