What Causes Birth Injuries?

There is a difference between a birth defect and a birth injury. A birth defect may be a genetic or congenital condition that could not have been prevented. A birth injury, on the other hand, occurs because of an action or failure to act on the part of a medical professional before, during or after the birth of a child.

The medical malpractice attorneys at MyPhillyLawyer represent families whose children suffered serious, permanent harm because of a birth injury caused by the negligence of a doctor, nurse, hospital, clinic or other health care provider.

Birth injuries typically are caused by three broad types of negligence:

• Lack of oxygen to the brain: If a doctor fails to recognize that a baby is in distress or fails to take appropriate action, the child can suffer permanent brain damage or death due to hypoxia, or lack of oxygen to the brain.
• Mechanical stress on the head and shoulders: There are right ways and wrong ways to delivery a child whose head or shoulders have become stuck in the birth canal. One of the wrong ways is to pull hard on the baby's head with one's hands, a forceps or suction device. These actions can sever the delicate nerves in a child's neck and shoulder, resulting in permanent paralysis.
• Drugs: The prescription of inappropriate drugs or even the right drug in the wrong dosage can have a devastating effect on a baby.

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If you suspect your child's physical, mental or developmental problems may have been caused by a preventable birth injury, please contact the medical malpractice lawyers at MyPhillyLawyer to discuss your case.

If we believe you have a potential claim, we will obtain the medical records of your child's birth and arrange for a medical specialist to review them. If he or she determines that medical malpractice caused or contributed to your child's birth injury, we will pursue financial compensation on your behalf. It costs you nothing to learn if we can help.

From offices in downtown Philadelphia, we represent victims of serious surgical errors throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.