Birth Injury FAQs
Understanding Birth Injuries
Learning your child has been diagnosed with a birth injury can be an emotionally stressful experience – especially when you are unsure how to cope. Parents will have many questions that need to be answered to ease their fears and understand how to secure their child’s future. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about birth injuries.
Q: What’s the Difference Between a Birth Defect and a Birth Injury?
A: A birth injury happens when a baby is physically harmed during delivery. For example, during a forceps delivery, a baby can suffer damage or fractures to their skull. A birth defect can occur at any stage of pregnancy, and some examples of causes are inherited genes, exposure to certain medications, or toxic environments.
Q: How Common are Birth Injuries?
A: According to the latest data reported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), out of every 1,000 live births in 2012, 1.9% of babies sustained a birth injury.
Q: What are Teratogens and How do They Cause Birth Defects?
A: Teratogens are chemicals that are known to cause birth defects in children. For example, Delalutin, a drug that was given to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages, is a known teratogen.
Q: Is Cerebral Palsy Caused by a Birth Injury?
A: Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage either before or at birth. Damage often occurs when the baby’s oxygen supply is reduced or cut off, preventing the supply of adequate oxygen or blood to the brain.
Q: Can I Sue My Doctor For My Baby’s Birth Injury?
A: In many cases, birth injuries are avoidable. If your medical professional failed to do the following, you might have a birth injury case:
- Failed to monitor the infant for signs of fetal distress
- Failed to order a necessary C-section
- Failed to properly use birth-assistance devices such as forceps or vacuum extraction
- Failed to use care when handling the baby during the birth process such as pulling or twisting the baby too hard
Did Your Child Suffer a Birth Injury? We can Help
If your child suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence, our Philadelphia birth injury attorneys at The Villari Firm, PLLC are here to help you seek justice.
Our experienced attorneys work with leading experts, including doctors and other legal authorities, to investigate and prepare cases for our clients. We spare no expense to ensure we are armed with everything needed to help our clients receive the compensation they deserve.
Contact The Villari Firm, PLLC at 215-372-8889 to schedule a free consultation today.