Childbirth is supposed to be a time of joy, but unfortunately both mother and child can be injured during the labor and delivery process. While there are many different types of birth injuries that can affect a newborn baby, one of the most common is broken bones.
Broken bones can heal with the proper treatment, but medical care is expensive. In some cases, the broken bones fail to set correctly, and the injuries from the break may cause permanent impairment.
The doctor or other medical provider who caused the harm may be responsible for compensating the victim if the fracture resulted from medical negligence
Speak With A Knowledgeable Professional
The New York and New Jersey birth injury lawyers at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., represent families who have suffered because of birth injuries caused by medical mistakes and errors. To find out what your legal options are, contact the firm now by calling 1-888-GINARTE (1-888-446-2783) or use our online form. Consultations are free. We collect fees only if you win your case.
Types of Broken Bone Birth Injuries
A newborn child’s bones are not yet as hard as an adult’s. An infant’s bones can be broken as a result of medical mistakes during a difficult labor. A broken clavicle is the most common type of broken bone suffered during delivery. However, any bone can be broken, including bones in the arm, wrist, foot, ankle, leg, hip, back or neck.
When a child suffers a fracture, the baby will usually be unable to move the affected body part. Lifting the child could potentially cause severe pain depending on the area affected.
How do Bones Get Broken During Birth?
Some of the most common causes of broken fractures during birth include:
- Labor that goes on for too long.
- A failure to recognize and respond properly to a breech birth.
- Improper and unsafe use of Pitocin.
- Shoulder dystocia (the infant becoming stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone).
- Aggressive delivery techniques, including improper use of forceps and vacuum.
In some cases, the doctor or other medical professional who participated in delivering the baby may be held legally responsible and made to pay for losses caused by the broken bone. Whether a doctor or other caregiver can be held responsible will depend on whether the medical professional was negligent.
Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and costs, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. This means that if a child suffered broken bones during labor because of a doctor’s negligence, the child’s family may be entitled to payment for both economic and non-economic losses.
Parents should take legal action on behalf of the child as quickly as possible to ensure that they do not exceed the allowed time limit for making a claim (the statute of limitations).
Treatment of Broken Bone Birth Injuries
When a child has suffered a broken bone during the labor and delivery process, the treatment may vary depending on which bone was affected. If the clavicle is broken, for example, then there is generally no treatment other than being careful when lifting the baby. Sometimes, the arm will be immobilized to prevent movement and to promote healing.
For other breaks, however, the bone may need to be set, or more invasive treatment methods may need to be used. Broken necks and broken backs are generally considered the most serious bone fractures that occur during labor and delivery. They could require emergency medical treatment and, in some cases, may be fatal or never fully heal correctly and can cause lifetime impairment.
Broken bones are often accompanied by nerve damage, including damage to the brachial plexus. Nerve damage can cause paralysis and loss of sensation, making it a much more serious complication than a simple fracture.
Contact Our New Jersey and New York Birth Injury Lawyers Today
At Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., our birth injury lawyers can assist parents in taking action when medical negligence caused broken bones or other birth injuries. We are ready to help you.
Speak With A Knowledgeable Professional
Please contact us for immediate attention at 1-888-GINARTE (1-888-446-2783) or use our online form for a free consultation.