Childbirth, while a joyous occasion, can result in complications that could harm both the mother and child during the delivery process. When a doctor fails to exercise proper care while a mother is giving birth, complications may become far more likely.
If your infant suffered from a preventable medical mistake during childbirth, you should consult a Sandusky birth injury lawyer immediately. While legal action cannot erase the harm done to your child, it can provide a means to ease the burden to care for your baby in the future. A dedicated personal injury attorney could help recover compensation to cover anticipated future needs while holding the negligent medical professional responsible for their reckless actions.
Types of Birth Injuries
Childbirth is a critical time in the health of both a mother and her infant. Therefore, when the doctor delivering a baby fails to take reasonable precautions or undertake appropriate procedures, they should be held liable for any harm that results. The types of injuries a baby may suffer during delivery may include:
- Brain damage (including cerebral and Erb’s palsy)
- Stillbirth
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding
- Injuries caused by forceps or vacuum extraction
- Preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome
- Injuries caused by C-section delays or mistakes
- Nerve damage such as Klumpke’s palsy or shoulder dystocia
These injuries could occur because of errors in prenatal care, delays in action during childbirth, or mishandling of a child immediately after birth. A Sandusky lawyer could assess the cause of a birth injury to an infant and determine the best course of legal action based on the circumstances.
Negligence in Birth Injury Cases
To recover compensation for malpractice during childbirth, it is necessary to prove that one or more medical professionals acted negligently. Legal negligence occurs when one person owes a duty of care to the claimant, they breach that duty, and as a result, causes harm.
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals involved in childbirth owe a duty to the mother and child to maintain a certain standard of care. To establish that a medical professional was negligent in a birth injury case, a Sandusky lawyer must present an Affidavit of Merit. In this affidavit, another medical care provider states a professional opinion that the negligence claim has merit.
Specifically, a medical professional must certify that they have reviewed the case and understand the standard of care owed in these particular circumstances. The professional also must confirm that the defendant did not meet the medical standard of care, and the infant suffered injuries as a result.
Contact a Sandusky Birth Injury Attorney
Because it can take considerable time to investigate the cause of birth injuries, obtain the necessary evidence, and prepare an Affidavit of Merit, it is wise to begin working with legal counsel as soon as possible. Compensation from this type of claim could provide for the possible additional medical needs that may arise in the future. Moreover, legal action could deliver a sense of justice and bring closure. If your child suffered harm during the delivery process, contact a Sandusky birth injury lawyer for a consultation.