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 people realize. Birth injuries can be traumatic for both the baby and his or her parents. They can range from mild, temporary conditions to severe disabilities. Understanding the most common types of birth injuries can help new parents recognize the warning signs and know when to seek a birth injury attorney in Los Angeles.
Common Birth Injuries
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. During labor, 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. This type of injury is linked to cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that affect muscle, movement, and motor skills, along with developmental delays and cognitive impairments that can last a lifetime. If your baby experienced HIE, it’s important to talk to a birth injury lawyer in Los Angeles immediately to seek the proper help.
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 help from a birth injury attorney in Los Angeles.
Who is Liable For Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries can lead to a great deal of medical expenses and emotional anguish. To recover compensation for a birth injury, 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. If this can be proven, the plaintiff may be entitled to recover damages from the doctor, and any other medical professional who may have caused the birth injury. A Los Angeles birth injury attorney can help you decide and prove liability for your case.
