What are some types of birth injuries caused by doctors?

Cincinnati doctors can rely on scientific data to help them make informed decisions, but not all doctors are as skilled as others. When a doctor fails to consider all the available data during prenatal care or the delivery process, it can lead to birth injuries. The following injuries can impact the quality of a person’s life and cost a lot of money to correct.

Oxygen deprivation

The absence of oxygen can cause many problems during delivery. One of the most common reasons this occurs is the umbilical cord gets wrapped around the baby’s neck during delivery. When a baby has its oxygen supply cut off, the baby may later have seizures, cerebral palsy or behavioral problems. Depending on how long the oxygen flow was cut off, the infant may also be born blind or die during delivery.

Low blood flow

It is a doctor’s responsibility to monitor the baby’s blood flow in the birth canal. A baby who gets in the wrong position can have their blood flow affected. Additionally, preeclampsia in the mother can affect the blood flow. When it becomes affected, brain damage can occur in the baby. While the doctor may have limited options to stop low blood flow, they should have a treatment plan for both mother and baby.

Brachial palsy injuries

One of the trickiest parts of delivering a baby is getting the shoulders emerged. Often, doctors must assist by turning the baby, but brachial injuries to the neck and shoulders can occur when done incorrectly. Temporary or permanent paralysis can occur, which is often diagnosed as Erb’s palsy.

If you feel that your baby’s birth injury may have been caused by a doctor or a member of the medical team, contacting a medical malpractice lawyer may help. A legal professional may be able to look at the records and see if your doctor missed something or made a mistake.