When a birth injury occurs, you deserve answers. You need to know whether your child’s struggle was a tragic accident or the result of harmful medical choices. While not every difficult birth involves negligence, many devastating birth accidents stem from preventable errors during labor and delivery.
Here are three common avoidable causes of birth injuries.
Failing to act quickly
Doctors and nurses have the duty to monitor you and your baby during labor. To ensure a successful delivery, they rely on continuous fetal monitoring. If the monitor displays that the baby is not receiving enough oxygen, your medical team must act immediately.
A delay in this crucial phase can lead to serious birth injuries, such as brain damage. Your medical team can be negligent if they fail to act swiftly upon clear warning signs.
Improper delivery techniques
Delivery requires skill and careful judgment. Birth injuries, such as Erb’s palsy, can happen when a doctor pulls or holds the baby too forcefully during delivery. Improper use of delivery tools can also cause head or brain trauma.
Ignoring high-risk factors
Medical negligence does not happen only from errors due to a moment of panic. It also occurs when health care professionals fail to anticipate a known problem. As part of their duty of care, they are responsible for diagnosing or managing crucial conditions during labor and delivery. If they ignore these, they fail their fundamental duty to you and your child.
Facing the reality of a birth injury
The heartbreak and financial burden of a birth injury can be staggering. Aside from caring for your child, you also face the burden of deciphering complex medical records alone.
If you believe your child’s injury was preventable, seeking guidance from an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you uncover the truth within New York’s statute of limitations.