Birth Injury

Phoenix Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Serving the greater Phoenix area, Mesa, and surrounding cities

birth injury attorney phoenix

Birth injury is a particular type of medical malpractice case where a baby is injured at birth as a result of substandard medical care. Medical errors during birth may result in brain damage, cerebral palsy or a variety of injuries. Some factors that may cause birth injuries are:

  • Failures to monitor, identify, or handle fetal distress. A baby in fetal distress frequently suffers from lack of oxygen, which can result in brain damage.
  • Failure to plan for an emergency C-section. Delayed delivery can cause oxygen deprivation. For example, if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck, insufficient oxygen will get to the brain. Doctors are expected to have emergency plans in place, so a C-section can be performed if needed.
  • Misdiagnosing pregnancy conditions. Some mothers experience high blood pressure, swelling, or diabetic conditions (called gestational diabetes) during pregnancy. If these conditions are not properly diagnosed and treated, they can result in large babies. Such childbirths require special care.
  • Misuse of instruments during delivery. When a baby’s shoulder becomes lodged in the mother’s pelvis during childbirth, proper procedure must be used to prevent injury to the nerves at the base of the neck that extend to the upper limbs (brachial plexus). This can lead to serious conditions including Erb’s Palsy (paralysis of the muscles of the upper arm and shoulder), Klumpke Palsy (paralysis of the muscles of the forearm and hand), or Cerebral Palsy, to name a few.

Birth injuries are not always immediately apparent. Sometimes birth injuries do not show up until a child is two, three or four years of age. If you suspect that your medical care providers gave poor medical care at birth, but you are not certain that your child was injured, you should collect the medical records as soon as possible and keep them in your possession as long as necessary. Additionally, contact a medical malpractice attorney right away for legal advice.

Speaking with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help you understand whether you or a loved one has been a victim of birth injury medical malpractice. If you are unable to travel, a personal injury lawyer can visit you in the hospital or at your home.

Call 480-898-9700 or contact a medical malpractice lawyer online today to discuss your potential case; the initial consultation is free.

The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.


Margaret Carty