Common Birth Injuries
Welcoming a new child into the world should be one of the happiest moments of a family’s life. Unfortunately, birth injuries are more common than many parents realize. When a preventable birth injury disrupts that happy moment, Los Angeles families need an advocate who knows how to hold negligent hospitals accountable under California law. If your child was hurt during delivery, a California birth injury attorney can start protecting your family’s rights today.
Oxygen Deprivation (Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy)
The most common and often most devastating birth injury involves a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain during labor and delivery. This is known as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy or HIE. Under California’s medical malpractice laws, hospitals and medical professionals are expected to closely monitor fetal heart rate and other vital signs for any indication that the baby is in distress. When these signs are missed, misread, or ignored, the baby can suffer irreversible brain damage.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Brachial plexus palsy is another birth injury frequently seen in California delivery rooms. This can occur when the baby’s neck stretches too far during childbirth and sends pain down the spinal cord to the arms, hands, fingers, and shoulders. Brachial plexus palsy can also occur when a doctor puts too much physical pressure on the baby during childbirth. Some children can recover from brachial plexus palsy within a few months, but others may be permanently paralyzed as a result of this birth injury.
Other Common Birth Injuries
Beyond oxygen deprivation and brachial plexus injuries, California families may also encounter:
- Fractures
- Facial Paralysis
- Cephalohematoma and subgaleal hemorrhage
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Perinatal Asphyxia
Many of these injuries can be preventable when medical professionals adhere to accepted standards of care, closely monitoring the mother and baby throughout labor, and responding promptly to warning signs. When that standard is not met, the consequences for a child and their family can last a lifetime, which is why it’s crucial to seek legal help immediately.
Who is Liable For Birth Injuries?
To recover compensation for a birth injury in California, you must prove liability. To do so, you must be able to show the behavior of the doctor and/or other medical professionals fell below the standard of care they are expected to provide patients. Additionally, California’s medical malpractice statute of limitations underscores the importance of promptly consulting a birth injury attorney. Our firm secures expert testimony and hospital records needed to hold responsible parties accountable, and do it on a timeline that respects California’s medical malpractice statute of limitations.
