BIRTH INJURY LAWYERS IN COLUMBUS OHIO
The birth of a baby should be a happy and exciting experience for the family. However, sometimes babies suffer physical injuries during birth. Some of these injuries cannot be prevented, but other times, injuries occur because of errors made by physicians, hospitals and/or medical staff. When something goes wrong, the results can be catastrophic.
Birth injuries can be classified in two primary categories - anoxic and mechanical.
"Anoxic" injuries are the result of oxygen deprivation. Oxygen deprivation can cause brain injuries including cerebral palsy, mental retardation and blindness.
"Mechanical" injuries are the result of physical force on the infant's body, i.e. the use of forceps or vacuum extractor or pulling on a limb during delivery.
Common types of birth injuries include:
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Skin irritations, abrasions and lacerations may occur as a result of scalpel cuts during cesarean deliveries or from the use of a vacuum extractor or forceps.
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Fractures, most commonly the clavicle.
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Brain damage. Oxygen deprivation is the most common cause of this serious type of birth injury. Bleeding within the skull or brain can also occur. These injuries can cause long term or permanent seizures, mental retardation or cerebral palsy.
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Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral palsy is an injury that occurs shortly before, during or after birth. Most frequently, this injury occurs when the infant's oxygen supply to the brain is reduced. Other causes of cerebral palsy include improper use of forceps and vacuum extractors and failure to respond to Rh incompatibility.
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Brachial Plexus Palsy and Erb's Palsy. These are mechanical trauma injuries affecting the nerves controlling the arms and hands caused by force on the infant's body.
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Umbilical cord entrapment can cause oxygen deprivation and nerve damage
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Forceps or vacuum extractor injuries
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Spinal cord injuries can be caused from excessive traction or rotation
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