A recent birth injury lawsuit was filed against an obstetrician alleging medical malpractice. The claim involved a difficult delivery, which resulted in the infant suffering a serious shoulder injury. According to reports, several risk factors existed throughout the pregnancy that indicated that problems may arise, but the doctor failed to take action to reduce the risk of shoulder dystocia and other potential birth injuries.
If you have questions about birth injuries, or believe that your child may have suffered harm as the result of medical malpractice, consulting with an experienced Los Angeles birth injury lawyer is important to evaluate your circumstance and determine your next steps.
Here the woman asserts that throughout her pregnancy, she suffered high glucose levels. Additionally, her abdomen was increasing more rapidly than it should, a sign that the baby's weight was also increasing at a rapid pace. Brachial plexus injuries (such as occurred in this instance) are one of the most common birth injuries experienced by infant and occur when the baby's shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal during delivery. Warning signs that "should dystocia", which may lead to a brachial plexus injury include having a large infant. Further, when this situation does arise, doctors must use extreme care to dislodge a baby's head to allow the delivery to continue normally. The use of excessive force may lead to a serious and permanent birth injury.
In this instance, the birth injury lawsuit asserts that the obstetrician breached the standard of care necessary in treating the mother by failing to take appropriate remedial actions given the woman's rapid growth, the risks associated with having a large baby, and by failing to respond with due care when the shoulder dystocia occurred. The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses and additional damages.
For more information or if you believe that your child has suffered a birth injury as the result of improper medical care, please contact the knowledgeable Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.