Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) is a condition that can cause birth injuries. It is usually diagnosable before the baby is born. When your family suffers because a healthcare provider did not recognize CPD, you could sue them for medical malpractice.
Speak with us about cephalopelvic disproportion lawsuits in Connecticut. A skilled birth injury lawyer at Berkowitz Hanna can help ensure you and your child receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.
Cephalopelvic disproportion occurs when an infant’s head is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis during birth. Sometimes, medical personnel use the term to refer to any physical issue that causes the baby to get stuck in the birth canal.
If a mother gets proper prenatal care, it is often possible to predict whether CPD will be an issue during the birth. According to a study published by the Archives of Obstetricians and Gynecology, multiple risk factors could indicate that woman might have trouble giving birth vaginally, including the weight of the child, prior c-sections, infertility treatments, maternal obesity, and the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby. By taking a complete history and monitoring a mother during pregnancy, a capable healthcare practitioner could identify one or more of these risk factors and make a birth plan accordingly.
Ultrasound examinations can provide a good estimate of a baby’s weight while they are still in utero. Ultrasound and other tests can help a healthcare professional determine whether there is an excess of amniotic fluid. Close monitoring of a mother’s weight and blood work during pregnancy can identify other risk factors before birth.
Medical personnel must carefully monitor the mother’s condition and the fetal heart rate once labor begins. They must respond immediately to any signs of distress. Failing to competently treat CPD can cause severe and permanent injuries to the mother and child.
Mothers might experience a laceration of the cervix, which can cause excessive bleeding and other complications. A ruptured uterus is a possibility if medical personnel do not respond timely to CPD. A child who is stuck in the birth canal for a significant time might suffer neurological injuries due to oxygen deprivation. Using instruments to forcibly remove a child from the birth canal can cause significant injuries to their limbs, skeleton, and brain.
A Caesarian section (C-section) is the safest response when a baby cannot pass through the mother’s birth canal. A Connecticut injury lawyer can review medical records to determine whether a healthcare professional negligently delayed performing a C-section, resulting in injuries to the child, mother, or both.
Injured mothers and parents of children who suffered birth injuries because of undiagnosed or mishandled CPD could bring a lawsuit seeking compensation. Unlike many states, Connecticut does not cap a patient’s damages in medical malpractice cases. A child and their parents could receive reimbursement of their medical expenses, the cost of the child’s care due to the injury, and money to compensate for lost opportunities and other subjective impacts if the injury caused a permanent disability.
Connecticut General Statutes §52-190a requires attorneys to obtain a certificate of good faith before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Another doctor who practices in the same specialty must review the patient’s medical record and offer a written opinion that the care the patient received might not have met the appropriate standard.
Patients have two years from the date of injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Parents can sue on behalf of their child but must do so within two years of the injury or within two years of the date the injuries became apparent. When a baby has a difficult birth, parents should monitor their child’s development closely and contact a Connecticut CPD attorney if problems that could be related to birth injuries develop.
Birth injuries are heartbreaking and stressful. Some children recover well, but some must live with the consequences of a birth injury forever.
Work with a lawyer who has experience pursuing damages in cephalopelvic disproportion lawsuits in Connecticut. We can review your circumstances and determine whether you have a viable legal claim. Call Berkowitz Hanna today to get started.
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