Birth Injury Investigation Specialist Lawyers From Oklahoma
Birth injuries can happen as the result of medical negligence when a physician, nurse, or hospital fails to use reasonable care. Tragically, these injuries are often incurred by the infant at some stage in the birthing process and are usually preventable. Medical malpractice can cause injury to the mother or the infant during the birth of the baby. Devastating results happen if medical personnel fail to monitor the baby's oxygen intake before and after delivery or if they fail to control extreme maternal bleeding after delivery. Medical malpractice requires professional litigators who will aggressively pursue your interests. Clark & Mitchell P.C., Oklahoma Birth Injuries Lawyers' are experienced. Following are some common birth injuries.
1. Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Cerebral palsy can result from infant's receiving insufficient oxygen during labor or birth. Whether the oxygen deprivation is due to medical malpractice or not, most children are born with the condition although they may not be diagnosed with it immediately. The disorder is non-progressive meaning that it doesn't get worse over time but the condition has a permanent impact on babies and families.
Three of the most common types of cerebral palsy typify the neurological disorders that are affected. Motor abilities are severely compromised in each.
€ Spastic
Accounting for about 80% of all CP cases, spastic CP symptoms include tightness in various muscle groups resulting in stiffness, difficulty moving, and intense effort required to hold and let go of objects.
€ Athetoid
Athetoid CP accounts for approximately 10% of CP cases. Slurred speech, involuntary movements, swallowing difficulties, and a lack of ability to maintain posture characterize this form.
€ Ataxoc
Ataxoc CP symptoms including tremors, balance problems, depth perception difficulties, and lack of muscle coordination account for approximately 10% of CP cases.
CP can be the result of the following medical malpractice failures:
€ Not identifying or accurately treating infections during pregnancy
€ Not appropriately monitoring fetal heart rate at any time during the birthing process
€ Not identifying prolapsed umbilical cord
€ Not correctly planning and scheduling a cesarean section or delaying the procedure
€ Negligent or mistaken use of delivery instruments
2. Erb's Palsy
Erb's palsy results from injury to the nerve network, brachial plexus, which sends signals from the spine to shoulders, hands, arms, and fingers. Difficult deliveries are often responsible for this condition as the infant's neck may get stretched or torn, damaging the nerves. This happens when the infant's head and neck are pulled at the exact time the shoulders are issuing through the birth passage or when the infant's shoulders are pulled too hard during a head first delivery. Typically, these infants will have an inability to move one of their arms. Treatment generally involves daily physical therapy. Occupational therapy and hydrotherapy have also had beneficial results. Surgery may be recommended for some children. Usually, infants do regain arm movement within a few months but with some, the injury is permanent.
The four types of Erb's Palsy are:
€ Neurapraxia - nerves are stretched but not torn
€ Rupture - Nerve is torn but not separated from the spinal cord
€ Avulsion - Nerve is torn away from the spine
€ Neuroma - Scar tissue forms that prevents nerves from transmitting signals to the muscles
3. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is a leading cause of serious illness and death in newborns. Generally, fetal stress during labor triggers intestinal and anal sphincter relaxation that results in feces being released into the enclosing amniotic fluid. The syndrome results when the infant breathes while still inside the uterus or when still enveloped in fluid after its birth and the mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid enter the lungs blocking the baby's airways. Risk factors for this syndrome include:
€ Fetal distress
€ Maternal diabetes or high blood pressure
€ Difficult delivery
€ Reduced oxygen to infant while still in the uterus
4. Perinatal Asphyxia
This condition results when there is insufficient oxygen intake by the baby before, during, or after the birthing process causing chemical changes in the child's body. Chemical changes include hypoxemia, low blood oxygen, or acidosis, high levels of acid in blood. The symptoms of perinatal asphyxia before birth are abnormal heart rate and low pH levels. Symptoms at birth include weak muscle tone, feeble breathing, reduced heart rate, and sallow skin color.
5. Injuries to Birthing Mother/Maternal Death
Most maternal injuries or death are preventable and occur just before, during, or immediately after delivery, usually from unexpected, non-preventable complications. Hemorrhages are still the leading cause of maternal death, followed by Sepsis (harmful bacteria and their toxins), obstructed labor, and hypertensive disorders.
Victims of a birth trauma, resulting in birth or maternal injury, as the result of medical negligence, are entitled to recover medical and hospital expenses. Complex medical malpractice claims require experienced attorneys who will immediately begin a comprehensive investigation on your behalf. Choose a legal team with experience. Choose Clark & Mitchell P.C.
1. Cerebral Palsy (CP)
Cerebral palsy can result from infant's receiving insufficient oxygen during labor or birth. Whether the oxygen deprivation is due to medical malpractice or not, most children are born with the condition although they may not be diagnosed with it immediately. The disorder is non-progressive meaning that it doesn't get worse over time but the condition has a permanent impact on babies and families.
Three of the most common types of cerebral palsy typify the neurological disorders that are affected. Motor abilities are severely compromised in each.
€ Spastic
Accounting for about 80% of all CP cases, spastic CP symptoms include tightness in various muscle groups resulting in stiffness, difficulty moving, and intense effort required to hold and let go of objects.
€ Athetoid
Athetoid CP accounts for approximately 10% of CP cases. Slurred speech, involuntary movements, swallowing difficulties, and a lack of ability to maintain posture characterize this form.
€ Ataxoc
Ataxoc CP symptoms including tremors, balance problems, depth perception difficulties, and lack of muscle coordination account for approximately 10% of CP cases.
CP can be the result of the following medical malpractice failures:
€ Not identifying or accurately treating infections during pregnancy
€ Not appropriately monitoring fetal heart rate at any time during the birthing process
€ Not identifying prolapsed umbilical cord
€ Not correctly planning and scheduling a cesarean section or delaying the procedure
€ Negligent or mistaken use of delivery instruments
2. Erb's Palsy
Erb's palsy results from injury to the nerve network, brachial plexus, which sends signals from the spine to shoulders, hands, arms, and fingers. Difficult deliveries are often responsible for this condition as the infant's neck may get stretched or torn, damaging the nerves. This happens when the infant's head and neck are pulled at the exact time the shoulders are issuing through the birth passage or when the infant's shoulders are pulled too hard during a head first delivery. Typically, these infants will have an inability to move one of their arms. Treatment generally involves daily physical therapy. Occupational therapy and hydrotherapy have also had beneficial results. Surgery may be recommended for some children. Usually, infants do regain arm movement within a few months but with some, the injury is permanent.
The four types of Erb's Palsy are:
€ Neurapraxia - nerves are stretched but not torn
€ Rupture - Nerve is torn but not separated from the spinal cord
€ Avulsion - Nerve is torn away from the spine
€ Neuroma - Scar tissue forms that prevents nerves from transmitting signals to the muscles
3. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is a leading cause of serious illness and death in newborns. Generally, fetal stress during labor triggers intestinal and anal sphincter relaxation that results in feces being released into the enclosing amniotic fluid. The syndrome results when the infant breathes while still inside the uterus or when still enveloped in fluid after its birth and the mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid enter the lungs blocking the baby's airways. Risk factors for this syndrome include:
€ Fetal distress
€ Maternal diabetes or high blood pressure
€ Difficult delivery
€ Reduced oxygen to infant while still in the uterus
4. Perinatal Asphyxia
This condition results when there is insufficient oxygen intake by the baby before, during, or after the birthing process causing chemical changes in the child's body. Chemical changes include hypoxemia, low blood oxygen, or acidosis, high levels of acid in blood. The symptoms of perinatal asphyxia before birth are abnormal heart rate and low pH levels. Symptoms at birth include weak muscle tone, feeble breathing, reduced heart rate, and sallow skin color.
5. Injuries to Birthing Mother/Maternal Death
Most maternal injuries or death are preventable and occur just before, during, or immediately after delivery, usually from unexpected, non-preventable complications. Hemorrhages are still the leading cause of maternal death, followed by Sepsis (harmful bacteria and their toxins), obstructed labor, and hypertensive disorders.
Victims of a birth trauma, resulting in birth or maternal injury, as the result of medical negligence, are entitled to recover medical and hospital expenses. Complex medical malpractice claims require experienced attorneys who will immediately begin a comprehensive investigation on your behalf. Choose a legal team with experience. Choose Clark & Mitchell P.C.
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