Nashville Birthing Injuries and Malpractice
The labor and delivery process can be stressful yet rewarding. What is stressful and not rewarding, however, is when a doctor or other healthcare professional injures the mother or her baby as a result of malpractice. If you suffered a Nashville birthing injury as a result of malpractice, contact Lerner and Rowe.
What is a Birthing Injury?
A birthing injury is when the mother or her baby suffer harm during the labor or delivery process. Now, there are injuries that more commonly occur during the natural birthing process. However, birthing injuries due to medical malpractice are less common and worthy of pursuit. Here are a few examples of birthing injuries resulting from malpractice that can affect the baby:
- Erb’s Palsy – When a doctor or other healthcare professional tugs on the baby too hard or in an improper manner, the bundle of nerves called the brachial plexus may suffer damage. This can cause weakness, numbness, and potential paralysis in the arm and shoulder areas.
- Hypoxia/Anoxia – If the baby isn’t properly monitored, it may not get enough oxygen to its brain. If prolonged enough, the baby can suffer from life-long disability or even wrongful death.
- Fractures – Broken bones, fractures, and other injuries can occur when a doctor or other healthcare professional acts negligently and doesn’t use prudent judgment. For example, a doctor may deliver a baby and fracture one of the baby’s bones when a cesarean section could have prevented such a fracture.
- Bleeding/Hemorrhaging – The baby could be bleeding or hemorrhaging at any time during the labor/delivery process. It’s crucial that all healthcare professionals monitor the baby; otherwise, the baby could suffer serious debilitations.
- Paralysis – Sometimes, doctors and other healthcare professionals may use medical tools in an incorrect way during the labor and delivery process. If this happens, too much pressure can be put on the baby, and they may be paralyzed, temporarily or even permanently.
Injuries from malpractice can happen to the mother during the labor and delivery process, as well:
- Preeclampsia/Eclampsia – Preeclampsia is a condition in a mother during pregnancy that can lead to eclampsia or seizures. If a doctor or other healthcare professional doesn’t monitor the mother, her condition can worsen and have catastrophic consequences.
- Bleeding/Hemorrhaging – The baby isn’t the only one that can suffer from bleeding or hemorrhaging during the labor/delivery process. If the mother isn’t monitored properly, she can suffer serious injuries due to loss of blood.
- Maternal Diabetes – While maternal diabetes is fairly common, it can lead to serious injury if not diagnosed and treated right away. A doctor’s negligence and carelessness can mean that the condition goes unnoticed, which may lead to other, more serious conditions.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a patient receives harm due to negligence. There are a few critical components of medical malpractice:
- Medical Relationship – There must have been a medical relationship between the patient and the healthcare professional at the time of injury. Medication receipts, medical records, doctors’ notes, and other documents can prove that this relationship existed.
- Negligence – The doctor/healthcare professional must have acted outside the bounds of reasonable care. This means they acted in a way that no other competent doctor/healthcare professional would have acted in a similar situation.
- Resultant Harm – The injury must have been caused by the medical professional’s negligence. Because the medical professional acted carelessly, the patient directly suffered harm.
What Can Be Done?
If you suffered a Nashville birthing injury due to medical malpractice, there are some things you can do. Check these things off as you go through the recovery process:
- Seek Medical Attention – If you or your baby suffered a Nashville birthing injury, get medical help immediately. Safety and well-being is always the top priority for you and your baby.
- Remember/Gather Evidence – Collect as much information as you can about the medical malpractice. Remember who treated you, gather documents, and keep in mind any behaviors/medical decisions you thought were suspicious.
- Contact Legal Help – Get in touch with Lerner and Rowe’s medical malpractice team right away. Our legal team will tirelessly pursue your just compensation.
- Concentrate on Healing – Focus your energy on recovering. Let Lerner and Rowe handle your legal battle while you rest and tend to your health battle.
Suffer a Nashville Birthing Injury From Medical Malpractice?
If you or your baby suffered a birthing injury while under the care of a Nashville hospital because of medical malpractice, contact Lerner and Rowe right away. Our professional attorneys know medical malpractice law and will work hard for your compensation.
Visit us in our office from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also call us anytime at 615-333-8888. Furthermore, you can reach us online through a contact form or through our LiveChat feature. Consultations are absolutely free, and we don’t collect a penny until we win your case. So don’t hesitate; contact us today!