Birth Injury Attorneys

Statistics suggest that 27 of every 1,000 births have some sort of preventable birthing complication or injury associated with it. Birth injuries refer to damage that an infant sustains during the process of labor and delivery. Although some birth injuries result from natural causes, many result from a medical professional’s negligence or mistake. When there is a lapse in judgment or care and a patient is harmed, the health care professional may be found liable for what is known as “medical malpractice.”

There are a number of people who may be held responsible for a birth injury other than the doctor, including attending nurses, support staff, technicians, and even the hospital itself. Given the complexity of birth injury cases, it is highly suggested that you contact a birth injury lawyer if you believe your child's birth injury could have been prevented. The law firm of Gemma Law Associates, Inc. , has years of experience handling Rhode Island birth injury law. We fight to protect the rights of patients and their families. Call us at (800) 677-9030 or fill our online contact form for a consultation about your case.

There are two major causes of birth injuries. One is oxygen deprivation that can occur for a variety of reasons, including compression or twisting of the umbilical cord. The other is mechanical trauma, which may occur when the baby assumes an unnatural position during birth.

Common mistakes that result in birth injury include:

• Leaving the baby in the birth canal too long;

• Excessive force during extraction;

• Failure to detect umbilical cord problems;

• Failure to perform a cesarean section when the baby is in distress;

• Failure to respond to the mother’s changing health conditions.

Some common injuries include:

• Bone fractures;

• Bleeding/bruising;

• Nerve damage;

• Brain injuries / mental retardation;

• Cerebral Palsy;

• Erb’s Palsy/Brachial Plexus Palsy/Klumpke’s Palsy.

Where birth injuries are caused by a medical professional’s mistake, the parents of the injured baby may be entitled to compensation. Although financial compensation cannot make up for the injury, it can help pay for the expensive and lengthy medical care that the child will likely need.

If you suspect your child’s birth injuries are a result of medical malpractice, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Even if you are unsure, the Providence, Rhode Island birth injury attorneys of Gemma Law Associates, Inc. , can review your case and advise you. Contact us today at (800) 677-9030 or fill out this form.