Mistakes made by obstetricians, midwives, nurses, and other healthcare professionals during pregnancy and childbirth can damage a baby’s health. Birth injuries can also have a devastating impact on an entire family. The emotional pain of watching your child suffer can be heart-wrenching. In addition, the medical costs of birth injuries are often ongoing and expensive.
When you believe your child suffered a preventable birth injury due to a medical professional’s negligence, you could be able to hold the responsible party accountable for the losses they caused. A Bloomfield birth injury lawyer can use their skills, knowledge, and experience to help your family fight back. Speak with a compassionate medical malpractice attorney from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC to learn more about how we can assist you.
What Is the Difference Between Birth Defects and Birth Injuries?
Not all babies are born healthy. Sadly, some babies arrive in the world with medical conditions or illnesses. Birth injuries are not the same as birth defects, as they have different causes.
Birth Defects
Congenital disabilities occur when a baby has a congenital abnormality that develops while they are in the womb. Congenital disabilities usually develop through genetics, when a baby has a medical predisposition due to their DNA or biological history. Heart murmurs, spina bifida, or chromosomal abnormalities like Down’s Syndrome are all examples of congenital disabilities.
Although doctors are sometimes able to identify a birth defect before a child is born through diagnostic testing, most birth defects are usually not preventable and do not occur due to a medical worker’s negligence.
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries are health conditions that occur during pregnancy or the birthing process. They are often preventable and occur because of a healthcare practitioner’s negligence. Modern technology, such as fetal heart monitors and ultrasounds, allows obstetricians opportunities to detect fetal distress and other labor problems. With early detection, doctors have the chance to intervene and save the life of a child or prevent problems. Lack of oxygen and birth trauma can cause avoidable birth injuries.
If a family is uncertain whether their child suffered a birth injury or a congenital disability, our seasoned legal team can review their case and offer guidance.
Causes of Birth Injuries
Different types of problems during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can lead to birth injuries. Some of the most common causes of preventable newborn injuries include:
- Oxygen deprivation – A prolapsed or knotted umbilical cord could cause a baby to lack oxygen, leading to brain abnormalities.
- Delayed birth – When a baby shows signs of fetal distress, their doctors must act quickly to prevent permanent damage.
- Head trauma from misuse of delivery tools
- Excessive force during delivery, which can damage a baby’s shoulders, head, or neck
- Failure to monitor the baby’s heart rate and the mother’s heart rate and blood pressure
- Medication mistakes
All of these errors can result in medical challenges for a newborn that could continue to affect them for many years. Our trusted Bloomfield attorneys can help a family fight for justice after experiencing a birth injury due to negligence.
Speak With a Bloomfield Birth Injury Attorney From Our Firm
When a healthcare practitioner makes a mistake during a patient’s pregnancy or birthing process, that error can impact a child’s health and future well-being by causing that child to suffer mobility or cognitive impairments. A Bloomfield birth injury lawyer can help hold the at-fault medical workers responsible for their errors. Let our trusted legal team work tirelessly to help your family secure the compensation you need to help with your child’s medical costs and rehabilitation. Speak with the legal team at Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC today to learn more.
