About 28,000 infants born in the United States each year—or 76 per day—suffer from a birth injury. In many instances, birth injuries arise due to medical mistakes, including miscommunication of pertinent medical information between practitioners during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Common birth injuries include, but are not limited to:
- brachial plexus and shoulder dystocia
- cerebral palsy
- spina bifida
- brain damage from oxygen deprivation or reduced blood flow
- brain hemorrhages
- facial nerve damage
- developmental delays
- bone fractures
- spinal cord injuries
- death
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that approximately 30 percent of all birth injuries are preventable. The most common causes of preventable birth injury are missed signs of fetal distress, a delayed Caesarean delivery or C-section, overuse or misuse of labor-inducing drugs, and unnecessary or improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction.
If you or a loved one have suffered birth injuries due to medical negligence or pregnancy mismanagement, contact a medical malpractice attorney at Kline & Specter now.