Obstetrical Malpractice

    ORLANDO, FL, July 27, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Having a child should be one of the most joyous occasions of your life. For months, you and your spouse or partner, as well as family and friends have waited for this moment to arrive. Most of the time everything is fine, and mother and child are able to go home together in a few days. Sadly, childbirth is not always a smooth procedure, costing undue heartache and sadness because of birth injuries.

It is not unheard of for physicians, nurses, and OB/GYNs to act negligently and injure your infant during labor or delivery. When this occurs, you may be able to file an cerebral Palsy obstetrical malpractice suit. Obstetrical malpractice covers different types of birth injury.

Cerebral Palsy

This is the result of your infant not receiving enough oxygen during birth, which then causes a brain injury. Cerebral palsy causes loss of muscle control and severe cases can result in mental handicaps. Obstetrical malpractice may have caused a compressed umbilical cord, delayed Caesarean section, or failure to detect fetal distress.

Erb's Palsy

When your infant's brachial plexus is injured, the result can be the birth injury called Erb's Palsy. The brachial plexus is the area of nerves near the neck and shoulders stretching from the spinal cord to the arm. Shoulder dystocia, when the shoulder of your baby is stuck behind the pubic bone causes this kind of injury. When the health care professional does not identify the child is stuck and cannot move down the birth canal, they may not maneuver the child correctly to avoid an injury. Because there are 16 different ways to free the baby from being trapped, there is no reason this kind of obstetrical malpractice should occur.

In addition, your OB/GYN or physician should be able to identify your child is susceptible to Erb's Palsy prior to delivery. Those most at risk of shoulder dystocia include:

- A mother whose previous child suffered shoulder dystocia
- Gestational and/or maternal diabetes
- Gestational age of the fetus is more than 41 weeks
- A baby who is over 8.8 lbs, or 4000 grams
- Second stage labor over two hours
- Maternal obesity

It is very important that you speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney if you believe your child's birth injury could have been prevented. If they were born with cerebral palsy or Erb's palsy, you should definitely contact one because these types of birth injury are completely preventable. Don't wait because gathering evidence is important and each state has a statute of limitations.

If you are in the Orlando, Florida area and would like to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney, please visit the website of Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter at the Florida Firm today at www.thefloridafirm.com.

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