At Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, P.C., we understand the source of heartache a birth injury is for parents. Unfortunately, birth injuries happen to approximately 27 of every 1,000 children born each year in the United States. Some birth injuries are not preventable, but others may be prevented with the proper care and adherence to accepted medical standards.

If you suspect that your child’s birth injury could have been avoided, please feel free to discuss the birth with one of our attorneys; we are happy to provide a no-commitment, no-cost initial consultation to explore your circumstances.

Negligent Medical Care
Physicians (including obstetricians and gynecologists), anesthesiologists, midwives, nurses, emergency medical technicians and other healthcare personnel are obligated to provide medical care that meets the prevailing standard of the medical community. When a healthcare professional is negligent or reckless in the provision of care before, during or soon after the delivery of a baby, the injured infant and his/her parents may be eligible for financial compensation for their losses.

A Broad Spectrum of Birth Injury
The definition of a birth injury is essentially any type of damage to a newborn incurred before, during or soon after the birth. Thus, the spectrum of birth injury ranges from relatively minor damage such as skin irritations to permanent damage that severely limits the child’s life or that is fatal.

Some of the more commonly occurring birth injuries include:

• temporary or permanent paralysis
• fractured bone(s)
• Group B strep
• cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, brachial plexus palsy
• brain damage
 
Causes of Birth Injuries
There are many ways that a delivery team can make a mistake while they’re bringing an infant into the world, including:

• failure to identify and treat conditions such as Rh incompatibility, maternal and fetal infections, and maternal diabetes
• improper birth techniques
• failure to respond quickly enough or appropriately to delivery complications
• the delegation of important medical procedures to inexperienced junior personnel
• delaying a necessary cesarean-section
• the use of excessive force during the delivery, with or without forceps
• underestimating the baby’s size
• mishandling the baby's skull

Talk to a Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Our Firm
Even if you’re not sure whether your child’s medical condition is due to a birth injury, you can consult one of the birth injury attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman to discuss your concerns. Contact our New York medical malpractice attorneys today to arrange an appointment.