Cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, and brachial palsy are common birth injuries that impact millions of newborns each year. Sometimes, such injuries are unavoidable, but other times, they are caused by the careless behavior of negligent medical professionals and facilities.
If you believe your child sustained a birth injury that could have been prevented, you may want to contact a Medford birth injury lawyer at your earliest convenience. Birth injuries can leave a lasting impact on the life of a child, and if they are severe enough, they can completely prevent your child from developing at a normal and healthy rate. However, a skilled medical malpractice attorney could help you and your family get the justice you deserve.
How Are Children Injured During Birth?
The vast majority of doctors are hardworking and honest professionals who constantly work to ensure their patients are cared for. Unfortunately, medical professionals do make mistakes and many of these mistakes are preventable.
Some birth injuries are mild and capable of resolving themselves without medical intervention. Others are far more severe and will require a lifetime of medical care for patients. In the United States, birth injuries are commonly caused by:
- Incorrect use of birth-assisting tools and equipment
- Failure to perform a cesarean section (C-section) when needed
- Failure to control or monitor oxygen intake
- Failure to screen and monitor for fetal abnormalities
- Failure to treat or detect fetal distress
The causes listed above are not the only actions expectant parents should worry about, but they do account for a high number of birth injuries. Some problems are unavoidable, but medical professionals should take the appropriate measures to monitor and observe their patients and expectant mothers.
For a free legal consultation with a birth injury lawyer serving Medford, call (856) 528-4494
Birth Injuries and Defects Caused by Prescription Drugs
When most people think about birth injuries, they immediately think about medical malpractice. The connection between medical malpractice and birth injuries is strong, but in reality, birth injuries can be caused by prescription medication as well. If a mother is prescribed a drug during pregnancy that causes harm to the child, she may be able to hold the pharmaceutical company liable. To do this, a Medford birth injury lawyer will need to establish:
- The mother used the drug in question
- The drug was used as directed by a healthcare professional
- The drug in question is capable of causing birth injuries or defects
- The drug in question caused the birth injury
Some pharmaceutical companies market drugs without testing extensively for side effects and there have been instances where drug representatives pushed doctors to prescribe unsafe drugs for “off-label” (unapproved by the FDA) purposes. Anyone took an unsafe drug that resulted in birth injuries should speak with a personal injury attorney in Medford who can help.
Medford Birth Injury Lawyer Near Me (856) 528-4494
Holding Medford Medical Facilities Liable
When a negligent doctor or medical professional causes a birth defect, the hospital or clinic he or she works for can also be held accountable. This is because hospitals have an obligation to ensure their patients receive the best care possible and to do this, should only hire healthcare workers who are experienced and abide by regulations.
Many hospitals also attempt to reduce operating costs by understaffing birthing departments with tired and inexperienced medical professionals. This is not fair to patients, and hospitals who encourage unsafe practices or create an unsafe environment should be held liable. A birth injury lawyer in Medford could fight to hold the negligent party liable.
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Talking to a Medford Birth Injury Attorney
If you are the parent of a child with a birth injury, your feelings of anger and confusion are understandable. Birth injuries are a serious matter, but with the help of an attorney, you can decide whether it would be wise to file a lawsuit against a medical practitioner, hospital, or pharmaceutical company.
Contact a Medford birth injury lawyer today if you are ready to take action. He or she could help you fully examine the facts of your case to determine your next steps. Call to set up a free initial consultation.
Call or text (856) 528-4494 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form