Family struggling with consequences of birth injury

New Haven residents may be unfamiliar with the terms Erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia. These are types of birth injuries. A baby may suffer from these injuries during delivery. Birth injuries like these can result in temporary or permanent disability, which is a life-altering consequence. A mother whose baby suffered from birth injuries may find that her child will need long-term medical assistance.

A recent example involves the case of one mother whose baby’s head was stuck beneath the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. Doctors also discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. While the doctor freed the baby, in doing so the baby suffered from a brachial plexus injury due to the doctor pulling on her left arm. The injury developed into Erb’s palsy.

The baby underwent physical therapy sessions to correct the injuries and eventually underwent a nerve graft surgery. Doctors were pleased with the results of the surgery as the baby was doing well after that. Nevertheless, this story illustrates the significant expenses that may be incurred by a family when a baby suffers a birth injury; therapy, advanced surgeries and other medical treatments will likely be necessary, and parents may face the prospect of lost wages from taking time off to provide care. Sometimes, one parent may need to leave employment altogether in order to become a full-time caregiver for the child.

It is important for families in this situation to explore all potential avenues of compensation for their losses. When birth injuries are caused by a provider’s negligence, parents may wish to consider legal action against the provider or the hospital where the birth injury occurred. Here in New Haven, parents may wish to discuss their potential claims with a knowledgeable legal professional who can give them advice and provide representation.

Source: Fox23.com, “Owasso mother raising awareness after child’s birth injury,” Michelle Linn, Sep. 23, 2013