Doctors With Information That Baby Was Large Did Not Take Any Precautions To Avoid Erb’s Palsy Injury
One kind of matter often seen by a birth injury lawyer is the Erb’s palsy injury. This injury is the consequence of damage to the nerves in the infant’s shoulder which affect the shoulder, the arm and the hand. Sometimes the child will require surgery. Despite surgery, though, some children will be left with lifelong injury to the arm.
When evaluating these cases an erbs palsy attorney takes into account a number of issues. Some of the factors is if the physician had knowledge suggesting there may be difficulties in a vaginal delivery and took acceptable actions to eliminate them.
In a documented case, for instance, the child’s mother had earlier delivered two additional children. The two had been large . The pregnant woman tested borderline for gestational diabetes in the fourth month of her pregnancy. She had disroportionate weight gain during the pregnancy. The baby had been noted larger than expected at 4 months into the pregnancy and to be in the ninetieth percentile for weight. Her physicians planned for her to be induced for a vaginal delivery in the fortieth week of pregnancy.
While in the hospital for the planned vaginal delivery various worrisome signs were noticed. Once the woman’s membranes ruptured, large amounts of meconium became visible. Later a monitor showed early decelerations in the baby’s heart rate. These might be signs of fetal distress. However, the doctor did not attempt to examine the pregnant woman again for gestational diabetes or to estimate the baby’s weight before inducing her. The physician did not change and perform a C-section.
Hospital records showed that shoulder dystocia was present and that subsequent to delivery of the baby’s head, rather than try a normally employed procedure, the physician instead employed suprapubic pressure to facilitate delivery. The child was ten pounds 10 ounces with a head circumference in the 90th percentile. The baby sustained Erb’s palsy. As she grew her arm atrophied because of her inability to use it. She has developmental delays and she has cerebral palsy. According to law firm that handled the case announced that the case settled for $900,000.
The preceeding is not medical or legal advice. You should consult a physician without delay in case you think there is a problem with your pregnancy or your infant has a health issue. Check with a medical negligence attorney if you believe your infant was hurt due to a mistake by a physician or other health care professional.
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