Was Medical Malpractice Responsible for a Brachial Plexus Injury?
A rough delivery can damage a baby’s nerves, especially the network of nerves running from the neck down through the shoulder and arm. These nerves are part of the “brachial plexus,” and any trauma can result in pain and other disabilities.
The birth of a baby should be a joyous time, but some parents are alarmed when their child seems paralyzed in an arm or in constant pain. Concerned parents are typically unsure of what happened. Even worse, they might not get any answers from the medical team after the delivery. Contact Pita Weber Del Prado. We can investigate if an error during delivery led to a birth injury.
What Causes Brachial Plexus Injuries?
These injuries are usually caused by:
- Excessive traction during delivery. A doctor could pull or tug on an arm or grip the baby’s shoulder with too much force. This type of force can directly damage nerves.
- Improper use of forceps. A doctor who misuses forceps can damage a baby’s shoulder and nerves.
- Shoulder dystocia. In this situation, a baby’s shoulder is lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone even though the head is delivered. Powerful contractions can push the shoulder against the pelvic bone, leading to compression and nerve damage.
A complicated question is whether your medical team is legally liable for any injury.
Sometimes the answer is an easy “yes,” especially if a doctor misused forceps or directly applied too much pressure. A doctor is generally responsible for their actions during labor, and they are liable for direct injuries caused.
The answer is more complicated in the case of shoulder dystocia. Births are sometimes complicated, and a doctor is not always liable for any complication. We want to know more about whether shoulder dystocia was an obvious risk factor, possibly because of the mother’s narrow pelvis.
In other situations, a doctor is not responsible for shoulder dystocia but does have liability for not responding properly.
Bringing a legal claim for any birth injury is difficult. For one thing, parents often lack critical information about what happened during delivery. You might also struggle to access medical records which can shed light on any problems. Birth is overwhelming for mothers and fathers, and unless your doctor points out a complication, you might think everything went fine during delivery.
Over time, however, you notice disturbing symptoms, such as your baby’s inability to move their arm, constant crying, or lack of reflexes. Your pediatrician might not have any answers, either.
Few people want to believe that a medical mistake has led to an injury. Nonetheless, treatment for a brachial plexus injury can be expensive. Some babies need surgery to try and repair the damage. Other babies could have lingering disabilities.
Get Legal Help from a Miami Birth Injury Lawyer Today
Diagnosing any medical problem with a child is tricky. Babies cannot speak, so they cannot tell us what is wrong. Call Pita Weber Del Prado today to discuss whether you can bring a medical malpractice claim against a doctor or hospital. Our Miami birth injury lawyers can meet for a free consultation to discuss your child’s prognosis.
Source:
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22311-shoulder-dystocia
