Birth injuries are usually considered a result of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is defined as any health care professional providing a level of care lower than the standard for the given position and situation. If your child has suffered a birth injury due to the actions or negligence of a medical professional, you may be able to file a birth injury lawsuit.
Causes of Birth Injuries
A birth injury is typically caused by any kind of medical malpractice during the birthing process. This includes incidents before, during and after the delivery of the infant. Known as delivery room negligence, the most common causes of birth injury include:
- Overly aggressive force during delivery.
- Waiting too long to perform a C-section even though the baby is clearly in distress.
- Failing to seek necessary help of an obstetrician if the birth is being performed by a midwife.
- Poor intubation of baby, resulting in hypoxia.
- Insufficient prenatal testing which leads to delivery complications.
However, birth injuries can also occur naturally. These types of injuries generally occur during vaginal or abdominal operative deliveries and are caused by a lack of oxygen or mechanical trauma.
- Lack of Oxygen Birth Injuries. These types of injuries happen when there is a stoppage in the oxygen supply to the infant. This can be caused by a squeezed or tangled umbilical cord or by asphyxiation on the fetus’s own fecal matter.
- Mechanical Trauma Birth Injuries. Mechanical trauma injuries usually occur because the baby assumes an unnatural position during childbirth or because the baby is too large to pass through the birth canal.
Types of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can cause disabilities that may last a lifetime. Some typical kinds of birth injuries include:
- Erb’s Palsy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Brachial Plexus Damage
- Oxygen Deprivation
- Dejerine-Klumpke Palsy
- Bone Fractures
- Mental Retardation
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Brain Damage
- Infection
- Internal Bleeding
- Paralysis
- Death
Oklahoma Birth Injury Lawsuits
If you believe that your child has suffered a birth injury caused by Oklahoma medical negligence, it is important to have an experienced medical malpractice attorney by your side. In order to be awarded compensation for your child’s injury, you must show proof of negligence on behalf of the medical professionals. Our experienced birth injury lawyers have the ability to successfully prepare and present the facts of your case to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. For immediate assistance with your Oklahoma birth injury claim, please fill out our online contact form. Contact us today to discuss your legal options.
