Pregnant women may sometimes require assisted delivery through the use of medical instruments to help the baby’s passage through the birth canal. In such cases, the doctor uses either a vacuum device or forceps to aid childbirth. An assisted delivery may be necessary if the mother is undergoing a lengthy, difficult labor and is too...
Cerebral palsy is one of the most common conditions that can be caused by birth injuries, occurring in 2.1 of every 1,000 live births. When it occurs as the result of negligence on the part of medical personnel, the parents may be entitled to compensation through a birth injury lawsuit filed against the medical providers....
A new study by Canadian researchers suggests that genetics may play a more significant role in the origins of cerebral palsy than experts previously thought. Researchers from Sick Kids Hospital in Canada and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center have found that at least one in 10 cases of cerebral palsy has...
Babies with brachial plexus palsy may be at a higher risk of developing plagiocephaly, or flat head syndrome, a condition that causes an infant’s head to be misshapen. Brachial plexus palsy is a birth injury that results in weakness or the loss of movement in a baby’s arm due to the collection of nerves around...
A federal birth injury lawsuit has been filed by a Florida mother whose baby suffered a brachial plexus injury during delivery. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against the healthcare clinic where the baby was born. The lawsuit alleges that a certified nurse midwife (CNM) made several...
A new study has found that cerebral palsy occurs mostly due to prenatal factors such as birth defects rather than birth asphyxia and other potential causes often thought to be responsible. The research was published in the September 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and...
The Many Types of Florida Birth Injuries and the Laws that Protect Victims
Many Florida parents have had their life changed in the blink of an eye when their babies suffered birth injuries at the hands of negligent medical doctors. What once was a happy occasion turned into a traumatic situation and medical emergency. When an expectant mother goes into labor, she is thinking about the excitement of...
St. Mary’s Medical Center Under Investigation For High Infant Mortality Rate
In June 2015, The Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched an investigation into the unusually high mortality rate among infants who underwent open heart surgery between 2011 and 2013 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The investigation was triggered by a CNN report which stated that 12.5% of infant...
Erb’s Palsy Explained
Erb’s Palsy, which is also referred to as brachial plexus birth palsy, is a type of obstetric brachial plexus injury that can occur due to complications at the time of delivery. The brachial plexus is a system of spinal nerves that convey messages from the spine to the shoulders, arms and hands. The most typical...
Helping Your Children Adjust to Their Sibling with Cerebral Palsy
If you have a new child who’s been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it’ll take a concerted effort, a good amount of time and an open heart to adapt to the new family dynamics. Having a child with special needs adds a new – and sometimes overwhelming – dimension to your life. It is your job...
Doctor’s Blaming Mothers for Birth Injuries – Know Your Rights
It is not unheard of for a doctor to blame a mother for her child’s birth injury. This is why it is so important for parents of injured children to understand their rights in a birth injury claim. An attorney can act as an advocate for the mother and injured child, fighting to represent the...
Lawsuit alleges negligence in causing Erb’s palsy
The parents of a baby born in 2013 filed an Erb’s palsy lawsuit alleging that their infant son will suffer neurological damage and be disabled for the rest of his life due to the negligence of physicians and the attending midwife at his birth, at Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida. The birth injury lawsuit...
Can You Seek Monetary Compensation If Your Child Suffers Cerebral Palsy During Birth?
You may be eligible to seek monetary compensation if your child suffers cerebral palsy during birth. We must demonstrate that another party was at fault for the mistakes that led to cerebral palsy. Liability For the Damages and Costs Cerebral palsy is among the most common birth injuries . Anyone who is at fault for...
If My Child Suffered A Birth Injury, How Do I Know If A Medical Mistake Was Made?
A birth injury can be devastating for the parents and have lifelong effects for the child. Many birth injuries lead to disabilities that require extensive care. In some cases, parents may wonder if a medical mistake was the cause of their child’s birth injury, but they are unsure how to proceed. Not every medical condition...
What is the burden of proof in an Erb’s palsy case in Florida?
The burden of proof in an Erb’s palsy case dictates that a plaintiff – in this case, the injured child’s parents – must prove his or her case based on evidence presented. Essentially, this means the victim must prove the doctor or hospital was at fault versus the doctor or hospital proving they were not...
What Are Your Legal Options When Your Baby Suffers Birth Injuries In Florida?
Your legal options when your baby suffers birth injuries in Florida may include filing a medical malpractice lawsuit for the injuries depending on the circumstances of your case. You might be eligible for compensation if medical malpractice is to blame for your newborn’s birthing injuries. Examples of Medical Malpractice There are many things that can lead to...
What is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is a condition that is caused by an injury to the brachial plexus, which consists of the nerves around the shoulder. Erb’s palsy is also referred to as brachial palsy, Erb-Duchenned paralysis or Klumpke paralysis. The condition differs from other kinds of palsy, and is marked by frailty or lack of movement in...
What Is A Wrongful Birth & Can You Receive Compensation From The Doctor Who Performed It?
Wrongful birth is a type of pediatric malpractice. It occurs when a parent is not given information about potential birth defects or medical complications that could influence the parent’s decision to avoid conception or terminate a pregnancy. Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible to recover compensation from the doctor who performed a wrongful...