The birth of a child is one of the happiest times in a parent’s life. After spending the last nine months preparing and waiting for the baby’s arrival, the day finally arrives where labor begins, signaling the baby is ready to make her entrance into the world. Labor and delivery rooms are usually the happiest locations in a hospital, with all the excitement and joy of the new parents. But sometimes, something goes wrong and instead of joy, there is fear and worry because something has gone terribly wrong.
Malpractice attorneys and birth injury lawyers in Philadelphia, PA are seasoned in cases of delivery room malpractice and have successfully represented many families in getting them the financial compensation they deserve for the injuries mother and/or baby has suffered because of the negligence on the part of medical staff.
And when it comes to labor and delivery, that medical staff can be extensive. There are often many “hands on deck” during this process. There is the doctor or midwife who is actually in charge of delivering the baby. There will also be at least one labor and delivery nurse present, as well as an obstetrician technician. Depending on what type of delivery the mother has chosen – natural or with the assistance of certain drugs – there may also be an anesthesiologist present. For the baby’s care, there is usually a nursery nurse in the delivery room and if the baby is coming earlier than the due date or if there may be medical issues, there will usually be a neonatologist. If the hospital is a teaching hospital, you can almost count on the presence of medical students, as well.
All of these people have a critical role to play, however, with so many people present and the fast-pace of the actual delivery, there is a high risk of medical errors or miscommunications among the medical staff. These mistakes can result in birth injuries to either the baby, the mother, or both.
There is a definitive difference between a birth defect and a birth injury. A birth defect is an abnormality that occurs before birth and is usually caused by either genetic or environmental factors. A birth injury is a preventable condition that occurs during labor, delivery, or after delivery and is caused by an adverse event on the part of the medical team. Although the majority of babies are born free of injuries, statistics reveal that approximately 30 out of every 1,000 infants are victims of some type of birth trauma.
Injuries to the mother can also occur during the birth of the baby that are also preventable. Some of the most common include:
The physical, emotional, and financial consequences of birth injuries can be overwhelming for parents. If you believe your baby was the victim of delivery room malpractice, contact a birth injury lawyer Philadelphia trusts at Wieand Law Firm, LLC today to set up a consultation and see what legal recourse you may have.
