Despite advances in modern medicine, there is no guarantee that your baby will be able to avoid birth trauma. Common types of birth trauma include damage to nerves in a baby’s face, arms and legs. Newborns who are delivered in New York hospitals may also experience a bruised head or collarbone damage.
What are some of the causes of birth trauma?
Trauma can be caused by the fact that the baby is too large to freely exit the birth canal. In some cases, a baby may need to be moved while in the birth canal to ensure that his or her head comes out before the rest of the newborn’s body. There may also be a greater chance of birth injuries if a mother is overweight or is unable to produce adequate contractions.
Birth injuries aren’t always severe
A baby that is born with nerve damage may make a full recovery within days of being delivered. In some cases, a newborn might need to undergo several weeks or months or light physical therapy to regain control of facial or other muscles. It’s also possible that other injuries will resolve themselves as the child gets bigger and stronger.
When does an injury rise to the level of medical malpractice?
Your doctor isn’t necessarily guilty of medical malpractice simply because your baby experienced birth trauma. This would typically only be true if this person made an error despite having the knowledge and tools available to avoid doing so.
If your baby is harmed while being delivered, you may be entitled to compensation on your child’s behalf. A financial award may cover the cost of medical expenses your son or daughter might incur. It may also make up for any extra educational expenses your child may incur because of a disability-related to a faulty delivery. You may also receive compensation if you were injured as a result of a medical professional’s negligence.
