A baby's birth is a time of joy for nearly all parents. The birth itself is also a risky event for both the mother and the baby. In the 21st century, mothers giving birth expect medical teams to plan for the birth, monitor the soon-to-be baby's well-being and, in general, give proper care and attention to ensure that the baby has the best chance at avoiding ill effects from complications.
Learning that your newborn baby has a birth defect is likewise a sorrowful thing for parents. Sorrow quickly turns to anger and dismay when parents learn that a birth injury was caused by medical negligence. How could the nurses, technicians and obstetrician allow a preventable birth injury to mar a child's future?
Does Your Child Suffer the Effects of Erb's Palsy?
Seeking answers to this type of question is the primary motivation of most parents who approach our law firm for help after a birthing has gone wrong and resulted in a negative outcome such as cerebral palsy or Erb's palsy. Parents may also realize that they need financial compensation that may be attainable through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Was your child's Erb's palsy a result of medical malpractice? Medical experts may help determine this. Erb's palsy is a paralysis of an arm resulting from nerve damage to the brachial plexus. Surgery may help correct or mitigate the damage. Therapy may also be recommended. If the damage is permanent, the child is likely to need various kinds of treatment or assistance to cope with the disability of a nonfunctional arm.
What Caused the Erb's Palsy? Was It Medical Negligence?
Shoulder dystocia during childbirth is the most common cause of Erb's palsy in newborns. This may occur because of abnormal developments during labor, when the baby's head and neck are pulled away from the shoulder at an awkward angle during passage through the birth canal. Obstetricians receive training in maneuvers that can deal with birthing complications and, when applied successfully, may prevent the Erb's palsy altogether. Failure to use these maneuvers at the right time may constitute medical malpractice.
Furthermore, experts may determine that because of a fetus's size relative to the mother's frame, a C-section should have been offered or performed to prevent a negative birthing outcome such as cerebral palsy or Erb's palsy.
Des Moines Birth Injury Attorney
Galligan & Reid, P.C., offers free consultations to parents of children with Erb's palsy. From our law offices in Des Moines, Iowa, Erb's palsy attorneys are prepared to evaluate your case and recommend a course of action, with no obligation. Contact us by phone or e-mail to schedule a consultation with a lawyer.
