Vacuum delivery may be necessary during birth when complications arise that require help with extraction. When vacuum-assisted delivery goes wrong, medical malpractice may be to blame. Your family may be dealing with significant medical expenses and other long-term consequences if your child was injured by vacuum extraction complications in Connecticut.
A lawyer at Berkowitz Hanna can consult with medical experts and analyze the nature and cause of your child’s injury. If medical negligence caused your child’s injuries, a skilled birth injury attorney can construct a strong claim for compensation.
Vacuum extraction is commonly used to guide the infant through the birth canal during vaginal deliveries. A vacuum extractor is a device that features a suction cup designed to attach to the infant’s head gently.
The medical team may use vacuum extraction during a difficult or prolonged labor, when the child is in an abnormal position, or when the child is exhibiting signs of fetal distress. Sometimes, a vacuum extractor is used during a Cesarean section to assist with delivery.
A vacuum extractor may create an undue risk of injury for the infant. For example, vacuum extraction complications can arise when a child is born prematurely, is too large to fit through the birth canal, or is not positioned head-down.
Extraction issues can arise during a birth in Connecticut that make vacuum-assisted delivery dangerous. For instance, when the use of forceps has previously failed, the child’s head position is unknown, or the child is not advanced in the birth canal, using a vacuum extractor could represent a violation of the accepted medical standard of care.
Birth injuries commonly associated with vacuum extraction complications include:
A lawyer can gather critical evidence to show that error by a medical professional caused the baby’s injury.
A child with birth injuries following vacuum extraction complications in Connecticut may exhibit signs such as breathing issues, feeding problems, lethargy, seizures, reduced muscle tone, and abnormal eye movements in the early days following delivery. Any of these could be symptoms of brain injuries or other complications from improper vacuum extraction and require immediate medical attention.
An attorney can determine whether a vacuum extraction complication results from medical negligence. To prove that your doctor or another medical provider was negligent in the use of vacuum extraction during your labor and delivery, the circumstances of your child’s injury must meet several criteria.
To file a birth injury lawsuit for vacuum extraction complications, your doctor must have owed a duty of care, violated the standard of care, and caused your newborn’s injuries as a result. Your newborn’s injuries must have caused damages that can be compensated.
An attorney can consult with medical experts to determine whether your physician’s actions complied with the accepted standard of care. Improper use of a vacuum extractor, a medical provider’s lack of experience during vacuum-assisted delivery, using an incorrect delivery technique, or failure to monitor fetal distress are just a few scenarios that could result in serious complications for the infant and may constitute negligence.
The hospital and the healthcare professional who provided the substandard care could be liable when your child’s vacuum extraction birth injuries resulted from negligence. You may be entitled to recover a range of damages for your child’s vacuum extraction injuries, including past and future medical bills, lost earning capacity, lost enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.
Not all vacuum extraction complications in Connecticut are the result of medical malpractice. An attorney can evaluate the facts of your case to determine whether a doctor, nurse, or other medical provider violated their legal duty of care.
We can manage the complexities of a legal claim on your family’s behalf so you can focus on your child’s recovery, treatment, and future. Vacuum birth injuries can have devastating consequences, and your child should not have to pay the price of someone else’s negligence.
If you would like an experienced attorney to review your case, do not hesitate to contact Berkowitz Hanna today. We can provide a free case consultation to review your potential claim and advise you about the next steps.
Berkowitz Hanna
