Even when everything goes smoothly, childbirth can be emotionally and physically challenging for both mother and child. Additionally, newborn infants face a high risk of life-altering injuries during childbirth, particularly when a difficult delivery causes nerve damage or fractures to the bones in the shoulder and clavicle.
As any experienced birth injury attorney can tell you, medical professionals cannot always prevent this sort of trauma from occurring. However, if your baby suffered significant shoulder damage because your doctors failed to care for you and your child during birth properly, you should consider reaching out to a Hartford shoulder dystocia lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC to discuss your legal options.
Shoulder dystocia refers to a situation where one or both of a baby’s shoulders get stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. This complication rarely occurs during vaginal births, but certain factors increase the likelihood. For example, the risk of shoulder dystocia rises if a baby weighs over eight and a half pounds, stays in an abnormal position inside the womb, or if the mother has an unusually small pelvis.
Obstetricians and other healthcare professionals caring for pregnant women must identify potential risk factors and warning signs for difficult births and take prompt action to minimize the risk of harm to mothers and their children. Failing to order a timely C-section, misusing forceps or other tools during delivery, or making decisions that fall below the standard of care can lead to serious injuries, including shoulder dystocia. When such misconduct causes direct harm, a Hartford shoulder dystocia attorney could assist with pursuing legal action to address the resulting injuries.
Improperly handled shoulder dystocia can cause serious injuries for both the infant being born and for their mother, such as:
In some cases, injuries like these can result in life-threatening harm and long-lasting physical, financial, and psychological losses. These challenges may persist for years after the initial injury. A seasoned lawyer is vital in identifying damages, assigning fair financial values to them, and proactively seeking restitution for a shoulder dystocia injury in Hartford.
Physicians cannot always prevent birth injuries, even with dedicated and compassionate care. However, doctors can often stop such injuries before they cause long-lasting harm if they provide the high-quality medical treatment you deserve.
If you and your baby did not receive treatment in keeping with the standard of care owed to you, you may have grounds to seek civil compensation for the harm you have suffered as a result. Contact us today to learn how a Hartford shoulder dystocia lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC can help with your unique claim. Your initial consultation is completely free of charge.
Berkowitz Hanna
