Birth and Delivery Injuries

Denver Medical Malpractice Attorney William P. Godsman

Medical Negligence During the Birthing Process

The birth of a baby is joyful moment for parents.  Unfortunately every year, babies are born with serious injuries – including brain damage. In tragic situations, babies die during labor or are delivered stillborn.  Sometimes these birth injuries and infant deaths are the result of factors outside a doctor’s control, such as genetics – other times, they are caused by medical negligence.  Many common birth injuries can be prevented with early diagnosis and proper monitoring and treatment.  If your child has died or suffered from a birth injury and you have reason to believe medical negligence was the cause, you should contact an experienced Colorado medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your situation. 

Common Birth Injuries:

Some birth injuries are relatively minor and resolve on their own or with minimal medical treatment.  These include:

• Bruises
• Forceps marks
• Scalp swelling caused by vacuum extraction

Other birth injuries can be devastating. These include:

• Bone fractures, especially fractures of the clavicle (especially common after breech deliveries or difficult deliveries)
• Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (occurs when the baby inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid during delivery. Can lead to severe illness and death.)
• Paralysis
• Spinal Cord Damage
• Infant Death

Two of the most common conditions that may be the result of medical malpractice include:

• Erb’s Palsy (also known as Brachial Palsy) – This is a loss of movement or weakness in the arm that results when the nerves around a baby’s shoulder are stretched or torn during birth.  It often occurs when a baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind its mother’s pubic bone and the doctor fails to use the appropriate delivery techniques. 

• Cerebral Palsy – This group of disorders can cause coordination problems, decreased muscle tone, and vision or hearing impairments.  Cerebral Palsy can be a congenital condition resulting from the brain’s failure to develop properly.  However, it can also develop during delivery due to the negligence of the delivery doctor.  It is often caused when the baby’s brain is injured or fails to receive adequate oxygen during delivery – which is why all babies should be closely monitored during labor. 

A physician’s medical negligence can lead to birth injuries in many different ways.  Sometimes birth injuries result from failure to diagnose problems during pregnancy such as fetal growth problems, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or birth complications due to a baby’s large size.  Birth injuries can also result when a doctor fails to observe or respond to bleeding, umbilical cord entrapment, or fetal distress.  Many birth injuries can be prevented if the delivering doctor performs an emergency Caesarian section.  If you suspect medical negligence has resulted in the injury or death of your child, a knowledgeable Colorado medical malpractice attorney can advise you of your legal rights.   

Free Consultation
If you are concerned that your child has suffered an unneccessary injury or impairment due to medical negligence, contact Denver medical malpractice attorney William P. Godsman today. He can provide a free case consultation and discuss with you your legal options for recovery. Call (303) 455-6900.

Related Medical Malpractice Information

• General Medical Malpractice Information
• Defective Medical Devices
• Failure to Diagnose
• Medication Errors
• Nursing Errors
• Surgical Errors
• Medical Negligence Wrongful Death