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Maryland Birth Injury Attorney
At Goldberg, Finnegan & Mester, LLC, we represent Maryland victims of birth injuries and their families. Complications in the prenatal period, during labor and delivery, or in the neonatal time period can result in a wide variety of problems for a newborn baby. These problems are known as birth injuries and can range from mild to severe.
The most serious birth injury is brain injury. One major cause of brain injury is oxygen deprivation to the baby in utero (the fetus). In utero, babies obtain all of their sustenance from the mother’s umbilical cord. If something happens to that umbilical cord (such as compression of the cord or placental abruption) the baby can lose its supply of oxygen. The health care providers monitor the well being of both the mother and baby using different means, including fetal heart rate tracings. When a problem develops with the heart rate of the baby or the contraction pattern of the mother, the health care providers are required to take certain steps. These can range from placing an oxygen mask on the mother, turning her to her side (called side positioning), turning off labor augmenting medications such as Pitocin, turning up the rate of the I.V. fluids, and calling the physician or midwife. In addition, an internal scalp electrode and intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC) may be placed. In the appropriate case, the health care providers should call for and perform an immediate cesarean section. With proper care, a baby should be delivered before its brain is deprived of oxygen and brain damage is irreversible. A brain-injured baby can develop seizures, require long hospitalization, and can develop cerebral palsy or other neurologic injury. The lifetime care for these children can cost tens of millions of dollars.
In addition to brain injury from lack of oxygen, other injuries to the baby can occur during birth. Injury occurs during delivery if excessive force is applied to the child’s head and neck, resulting in brachial plexus injury and permanent Erb’s Palsy (where the nerves running to the baby’s hand and arm are injured, resulting in loss of function and use). In addition, inappropriate use of vacuum or forceps to deliver the baby can cause injury, including skull fractures and bleeding into the brain.
In addition to injuries caused by mistakes during the delivery process, birth injuries can be caused by mistakes made by hospitals or doctors during the prenatal care. For instance, if gestational diabetes is not detected or monitored, the baby may become too large for a safe vaginal delivery. In addition, babies who are overdue require special monitoring, including non-stress tests or biophysical profiles.
Did your child suffer a birth trauma or injury in the hands of a medical professional? If so, contact one of our Maryland Birth Injury Attorneys for a Free Case Evaluation today! The firm’s birth injury department even has a Registered Nurse (R.N.) Attorney on staff. An attorney from our firm can assist you and bring your medical malpractice case to court and get the justice you deserve.
Another time during which the baby can be injured by malpractice is in the neonatal period – from the time the baby is born through the first few weeks of life. If the baby is not eating well and is losing weight (called a failure to thrive), is becoming jaundiced (yellowing of the skin), has abnormal blood tests, or develops infection including meningitis, intervention by the health care providers is mandatory. If these conditions go untreated, are undertreated or are ignored, then the baby may develop brain damage or other injuries.
Common birth and neonatal injuries include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Brain Damage
- Erb's Palsy
- Fractured Collar Bone
- Klumpke's Palsy
- Brachial Plexus Palsy
- Mental Retardation
- Seizures
- Abnormal blood tests
- Kernicterus
The most serious types of birth injury are the ones that permanently affect the brain. These injuries vary greatly in severity. They may lead to cerebral palsy, mental retardation and seizure disorders. If your baby suffers from these conditions, our attorneys can help you and your child receive the compensation you deserve.
Did your child suffer a birth trauma in the hands of a medical professional? If so, contact one of our Maryland Birth Injury Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation today!