While most labor and deliveries go smoothly, even under the best of circumstances errors do occur and complications arise. When the errors are the result of the hospital, physician or other medical staff failing to follow the proper standard of care and your child suffers harm, the health care provider may be found liable for medical malpractice.
Several types of birth injuries may arise as the result of difficulties during labor and delivery, including but not limited to:
- spinal cord injuries
- brain injuries
- brachial plexus injuries
Further, the way a health care team responds to an injury can have a significant impact on the severity of a birth injury. For example, studies have shown that administering brain cooling to a newborn who has suffered a brain injury can dramatically reduce the long term consequences of the trauma, and provide the child improved chances of a healthy life. Studies have also shown that cooling therapy can help heal damage from spinal cord injuries. As a result, in certain circumstances failing to adequately respond to complications that arise during labor and delivery may also be considered medical malpractice.
If you believe that your child may have been harmed as the result of medical error at birth, its critical that you consult with an experienced California birth injury lawyer at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP as soon as possible to determine your next steps and help you recover compensation that can provide your child with the necessary care for an improved quality of life.