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The birth of a baby is one of life’s greatest joys. Unfortunately, at the same time, many things can and do go wrong in the process of labor and delivery.

It is reported that eight to ten birth injuries occur for every 1,000 live births in the United States because of medical malpractice or negligence. Injuries can occur to the mother as well as the baby in certain cases.

Medical malpractice or negligence is when a healthcare professional, for example a doctor or nurse, nurse practitioner, or a healthcare facility, a hospital, urgent care center, birthing center fails to provide an adequate standard of care and treatment to patients in their care.
Birth injuries/birth traumas are wide ranging conditions from mild to severe.

Minor bruising to actual brain damage can occur. Not all birth trauma is caused by medical malpractice or negligence, but some are.
Common Birth Injuries

• Bruising from use of forceps
• Head swelling
• Facial paralysis
• Brachial palsy (Erbs palsy and Klumpkes palsy)
• Fractured bones
• Brain injury

Cerebral palsy is a chronic medical condition caused by damage to the brain of a baby at the time of labor and delivery. Medical malpractice may cause this condition. Remember, malpractice can be the result of an action taken or the failure to take action when it is warranted. Some medical errors which fit into the category of malpractice or negligence are:

• Failure to respond to fetal distress
• Delay in ordering cesarean section (c section)
• Misuse of forceps
• Inadequate management of excessive bleeding

At times evidence of a birth injury is not apparent immediately after the birth. Symptoms sometimes don’t become evident until days, weeks, months or even years pass. The financial burden of caring for a child with a birth injury can be devastating unless assistance is made available to the individuals involved.

If you are concerned that someone you care about has been victimized by medical malpractice or negligence please visit the website of New York City medical malpractice attorneys Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.