Unfortunately, birth injuries do occur in West Virginia. When they do, they can lead to lifelong disabilities and medical complications for what have otherwise been perfectly healthy children. Some may even die. Even worse, many of these birth injuries were probably completely preventable. The negligence of doctors and nurses may have been to blame.
Common birth injuries
There are many different ways a baby can be harmed during delivery and even immediately afterward. Still, many common birth injuries fall into common categories. Some of the most common birth injuries include:
- permanent nerve damage
- internal bleeding
- bone fractures
- brain damage
- organ damage
- spinal trauma
Pregnancy complications
Pregnancy complications can also increase the risk of birth injuries. One you may not have heard of before is HELLP syndrome. This pregnancy complication can develop during the third trimester and lead to serious issues in the blood and liver. Mothers with pregnancy complications must receive special care to preserve their and the baby’s health.
Birth injury related disabilities
Birth injuries can lead to serious disability and medical issues later in life. This can include ailments such as:
- cerebral palsy
- Erb’s palsy
- attention deficit disorder
- autism
- blindness
- hearing loss
- learning disabilities
- mobility issues
This list is in no way exhaustive. These birth-related medical problems can result in the need for a lifetime of medical treatment and therapy. They can also greatly limit a person’s career prospects, lifetime earning potential or even quality of life.
Medical malpractice
Since the consequences of birth injuries can be so severe, they often lead to medical malpractice lawsuits. Not every birth injury can lead to a successful lawsuit. Instead, you must prove that your child had severe, lasting injuries that impacted your child’s life. Second, it must be proven that the negligence of medical professionals caused the birth injuries. In this case, negligence exists if it can be shown that the standard of care provided was below that of other doctors and nurses in the field.
Unfortunately, life may be tough for the victims of birth injuries. Suppose those injuries were caused by medical negligence. In that case, compensation can be obtained in a court of law to help pay for medical expenses and other damages such as a decline in quality of life and career prospects. Birth injuries should be far less common then they are, and those responsible should be held accountable.
