Common birth injuries and responsible parties

Birth injuries can have devastating consequences. They can result in lifelong disabilities and even prove to be fatal. There is a trio of more commonplace birth injuries that occur in North Carolina and across the country that warrant consideration. These injuries oftentimes occur as the result of medical negligence or medical malpractice.

Oxygen deprivation

Oxygen deprivation represents one of the most frequently occurring birth injuries. Oxygen deprivation can result in brain damage, including injury that can permanently impact the quality of life. Oxygen deprivation is a more common type of birth injury than is a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury can occur during the labor and birth process as well. Traumatic brain injury associated with childbirth most often occurs when there is an error involving the use of forceps or a birth-related vacuum unit. As is the case with oxygen deprivation, traumatic brain injury can have devastating, lifelong consequences.

Bone Fractures

Finally, the third most commonplace type of birth injury is some type of bone fracture. The most frequently occurring type of birth-related fracture is to the collarbone. While bone fractures typically do not have lifelong consequences for a newborn, they are painful and often the result of medical negligence.

Parties responsible for birth injuries

As mentioned previously birth injuries typically arise as the result of some type of medical negligence, error or malpractice. In many cases involving birth injuries, multiple parties may be at fault. These typically include:

• Attending physician or OBG-YN
• Anesthesiologist
• Nurse
• Medical center
• Midwife

Due to the potential for persistent, lifelong injury, protecting the legal rights of a child with birth injuries is vital. There are attorneys who focus their practices on cases involving birth injuries.