Birth Injury

Newborn infants are some of the most fragile humans on the planet. If an infant suffers serious injuries before, during, or after the birth, the damage may ultimately result in paralysis. Infant paralysis may be partial or complete, temporary or permanent, depending on the cause and the degree of severity. Infant paralysis is not always […]

Childbirth is a natural and normally safe process. However, it’s also a time during which babies are especially vulnerable. It is incredibly important for medical professionals to handle this pivotal procedure with extreme care and diligence. If a doctor or member of the medical staff fails to treat, or improperly treats, a complication or condition, […]

Medical malpractice lawsuits occur whenever a healthcare provider fails to follow standard procedures, misdiagnoses a medical condition, writes the wrong prescription, or makes a surgical mistake, among other negligent acts. If a patient is harmed, then this could be a case of medical malpractice. With a medical malpractice claim, the injured victim’s attorney has the […]

A decrease in blood flow to the baby’s tissues, or decrease in oxygen in the baby’s blood pre-, during, or post-delivery is called Perinatal asphyxia. Some of the most common causes of Perinatal asphyxia include the following: Placenta has separation from the uterus before delivery (placental abruption) Umbilical cord blood flow due to obstruction Fetus […]

  Bleeding around and within the brain (intracranial hemorrhage) is typically caused by the rupture of blood vessels that may have originated during birth. These blood-related issues may include: Injuries sustained at birth Decreases of delivery of blood or oxygen to the brain which may result in significant illness in the newborn A severe issue […]

The consequences of injuries to a baby during difficult labor and delivery may range from mild to severe and may be temporary or permanent. These traumatic birth-related injuries may involve the other parts of the body and specifically, the brain. Some of the most common preventable birth injuries may even result in death. Preventable birth […]

When shoulder dystocia occurs, it puts both mother and baby at risk for permanent damage. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, shoulder dystocia occurs in approximately 1 out of every 1,000 births. Shoulder dystocia happens when a baby’s shoulders remain stuck in the mother’s pelvis after the head of the infant has […]

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, also known as Intrapartum Asphyxia, is one of the most common types of brain damage in babies. According to the World Health Organization, HIE is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide in children under five years of age.  HIE causes an astonishing 23% of neonatal deaths worldwide. HIE is a condition […]

Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common causes of brain disorders affecting infants in the United States. According to the CDC, it affects around 4 children out of every 1,000 children. How these deficiencies affect the individual will vary depending on what type of disorder the person has. Cerebral palsy is often used as an […]

The newborn’s skin may exhibit minor injuries after delivery, especially those areas receiving additional pressure during pre-delivery contractions, or bodily surfaces that first emerge from the birth canal during delivery. Forceps and assorted instruments required for normal delivery procedures can certainly injure the skin. Following breech deliveries, swelling and bruising may appear around the eyes […]

Nerve injuries—minor or life-threatening—may occur pre-delivery or during delivery. These nerve-related birth injuries typically cause weakness of the muscles controlled by the affected nerve. Nerve injuries symptoms may be observed through: A lopsided facial expression, resulting from facial nerve damage, or facial palsy Arm and/or hand weakness, called Brachial plexus nerve damage Difficulty breathing, called […]

A newborn’s bones may be broken (fractured) during delivery, even when the delivery is considered normal by all other observations. In 1 to 2% of newborn birth injuries, a collarbone (clavicle) fracture is considered relatively common. A lump of tissue forms around the fracture which is not usually recognized until several days after delivery. When […]

What is medical malpractice? Medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider neglects to provide a patient with an appropriate treatment or gives substandard treatment that leads to injury or death. In Maryland, a health care provider can be medically negligent if they injure or treat a patient below the industry standard of care. In […]

Birth is a joyous moment, but sadly, sometimes these moments are tainted with complications. Birth injuries are categorized as damage sustained during the birthing process. Typically, these injuries occur during transit through the birth canal. In most cases, injuries can be resolved without treatment but other times, severe nerve damage or broken bones can occur. […]

  Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) providers embrace the responsibility of anticipating any potential problems reasonably foreseeable and were necessitated, the authority to actively intervene during labor and delivery to prevent harm. Negligence—the failure to act in accordance with accepted standards of care—are correspondingly at the center of birth injury. The most common birth trauma and […]

Every year millions of infants are born with brain damage that has life-long consequences that will require expensive care and treatment. There are many different causes that can lead to infant brain damage including oxygen deprivation, infections from the mother, or physical trauma.  Oxygen Deprivation Babies that experience oxygen deprivation, even for a few moments, […]