Although medical technology in the U.S. is among the best in the world, thousands of birth injuries occur here each year, and some of these injuries are due to medical negligence—whether on the part of the attending healthcare providers (for example, obstetricians, midwives, nurses, anesthesiologists, etc.) or the hospital itself. Hospitals have a responsibility to hire adequately trained and skilled staff and when they fail in this duty, patients and their families are the ones who suffer.

Types of Birth Injuries
The results of inadequate care by a hospital or healthcare provider during a woman’s pregnancy can be devastating and, in some cases, permanent. Examples of the most severe conditions that can result from an injury at birth include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb's palsy
• Brachial plexus palsy
• Brain damage
• Group B strep
• Paralysis, whether temporary or permanent, widespread or localized
• Bone fractures

Medical Malpractice
Most of the time, the birth of a child occurs with no complications. The medical staff at a hospital or clinic does all that it can to ensure that the baby's delivery is safe and problem-free. Physicians and midwives are highly trained professionals who do their best to bring each child into the world without injury.

However, medical staff members sometimes make mistakes, act negligently, or are making decisions based on judgment that is impaired. The actions (or lack of action) that may result in a birth injury include (but are not limited to):

• oxygen deprivation
• use of too much force during the delivery
• mishandling the baby's skull
• delegating procedures to junior staff or non-qualified staff
• miscalculating the baby's size, resulting in a traumatic delivery
• failing to identify conditions such as maternal diabetes, Rh incompatibility, maternal or fetal infection, fetal distress
• failure to adequately respond to complications during delivery
• improper birth techniques
• a delay in performing a necessary Cesarean section

The Rights of the Child and Family
At the law firm of Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, Shkolnik & McCartney LLP, we have helped many parents of children who suffered a birth injury. A birth injury can permanently alter the quality of life of both the child and family, and it can place enormous financial and emotional hardships on everyone involved.

Please feel to contact us to discuss the circumstances of your child’s birth injury with one of our attorneys.