Raising children in today’s society can definitely be hard at times. However, if your child suffers from trauma caused by a birth injury, caring for him can become even more difficult. Birth traumas can affect your child’s brain, motor functions, and cognitive reasoning skills. They can even lead to death. However, if your infant was injured as a result of medical care negligence during your delivery, he may be entitled to malpractice compensation.
Not all cognitive and behavioral issues are a result of obstetric negligence, but if your physician failed to recognize or act upon signs of fetal distress, that distress could cause long-term consequences for your child. Likewise, if your doctor attempted to get your child out of distress by using too much force or by rushing the delivery, this could also have lead to injuries to the child.
The most common forms of birth injuries result from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and increased pressure during delivery. Hypoxia can develop into several neurological, physical, and behavioral problems as a result of brain damage. Too much pressure can cause nerve and muscular damage. These injuries can include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizures
- Cognitive development issues
- Decreased motor skill abilities
- Brachial plexus (nerve damage)
- Paralysis
On average, 25 percent of all pregnancies have some sort of complication. Although most of the time these complications are slight and will clear up on their own, if your doctor does not address them and later your child suffers as a result, that doctor is liable for his negligence. If you believe your child’s ailment is a result of malpractice, the Northern Virginia birth injury attorneys at Shevlin Smith are here to help. Don’t let your doctor get away with hurting your child. Call us at 703-721-4233 for a free consultation.