Birth Injury Attorneys - ChildBirthInjuries.com

Birth Injuries

In 1998, a New York State Supreme Court found Lenox Hill Hospital liable in a medical malpractice suit brought against them by the parents of a child born at their facility. The lawsuit alleged that the couple's daughter suffered severe injuries during her birth. These injuries were thought to have directly caused the girl's cerebral palsy and other neurological problems.

Few life events are more joyous than the birth of a child. In most cases, labor and delivery proceeds smoothly and the baby is born without incident. Unfortunately, acts of medical negligence during labor and delivery can cause complications which damage a newborn's health. A birth injury, or birth trauma, is any type of injury suffered by an infant as a result of the birthing process.

A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1999 revealed startling facts on the prevalence of brain-related birth injuries.

In a study of 583,340 infants, birth injuries occurred in:

• 1 out of every 860 delivered by vacuum extraction
• 1 out of every 907 delivered by cesarean section (c-section)
• 1 out of every 664 delivered with the use of forceps

Birth injuries can take on many forms and degrees of severity. Two common types of birth injuries that may arise from medical negligence are cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders caused by damage to the area in the brain that controls sensation, voluntary motor function and posture. More than 500,000 Americans have cerebral palsy, and an additional 4,500 infants and children are diagnosed each year. Although this condition is not curable, proper management of symptoms can improve the quality of life for CP patients.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury

Signs of cerebral palsy are usually seen by 3 years of age, and typically include a lack of muscle coordination, stiff muscles, difficulty in swallowing or speaking, and exaggerated reflexes. Learn more about Cerebral Palsy, a common birth injury.

What is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb's palsy is another name for brachial plexus palsy. This condition results from damage to the network of nerves that control movement in the shoulder, arms, and hands. Approximately 1 or 2 babies in 1,000 suffer brachial plexus injuries at birth. Erb's Palsy is more likely to happen during difficult deliveries, when the passing of the baby's shoulders through the birth canal may cause tearing or stretching of the brachial plexus nerves.

Symptoms of this Birth Injury

Symptoms of Erb's palsy include a limp or paralyzed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist, and lack of feeling or sensation in the infant's arm or hand. Learn more about Erb's Palsy, a common birth injury

Contact Us

If you think your child is suffering from a birth injury as a result of medical negligence, contact us.

The law limits the amount of time after a patient incurs an injury to file suit. The amount of time varies based on the theory of liability and the state in which the patient files the suit.