Maryland Attorney for Infant Injuries Caused by Hospital or Midwife Negligence

A hospital or a midwife should always exercise caution when handling the delivery of a child. However, if either of these parties acts negligently and injure your child, you may be able to pursue a legal claim against them. Your child should not be burdened with an injury due to the negligence of a hospital or midwife. If your child was injured due to the negligence of a hospital or midwife, you should consult with an experienced Maryland attorney for infant injuries caused by the hospital or midwife negligence.

Rice, Murtha & Psoras is here to offer you the legal representation needed to pursue your medical malpractice lawsuit against a negligent hospital or midwife. We see the burdens many families must bear after a severe birth injury, and we are here to offer you the legal representation that you deserve. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential lawsuit, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You may also contact the firm online.

Common Infant Injuries Caused by Hospital or Midwife Negligence in Maryland

As a mother, you should not have to worry about whether your hospital or the midwife you hired will act negligently and injure your newborn. Unfortunately, there are many infants that are injured due to negligence by a hospital or midwife. the following are some infant injuries that may occur due to the hospital or midwife’s negligence.

Bruising Birth Injuries

A bruising birth injury may occur under a variety of circumstances. Many bruising birth injuries happen because a medical practitioner acted negligently when delivering a newborn. For example, if a doctor or a midwife used excessive force when pulling a child from the womb, this may cause bruising that may lead to other health complications.

Anoxia or Hypoxia

Anoxia and hypoxia occur when an infant has been deprived of oxygen. Anoxia refers to the complete absence of oxygen, and hypoxia is a substantial decline in oxygen. These conditions can occur in a number of ways. For example, if a newborn becomes entangled in their umbilical cord, this may cause the child to experience anoxia or hypoxia. When a hospital or midwife does not act quickly to correct this issue, they could be liable for the child’s injuries.

An infant could also be asphyxiated if they become stuck in the birth canal, or the child exits the womb in breech presentation (feet first). In severe cases, anoxia or hypoxia could result in a child sustaining brain damage.

There are other circumstances that could lead to an infant suffering a severe injury at the hands of hospital staff or a midwife. To learn more about liability for an infant injury caused by a midwife or hospital staff, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney today.

Liability for Infant Injuries Caused by Hospitals or Midwives in Maryland

As mentioned, there are many scenarios where hospital staff or a midwife could act negligently and injure an infant. When this happens, it is important to understand when a medical practitioner or midwife could be liable for their mistakes.

Midwives are becoming more popular for mothers that wish to avoid the hospital and have a home birth. However, without the benefit of multiple medical practitioners, specialized medical equipment, and medication, there is an increased risk of a newborn suffering an injury. This is especially true if a midwife does not act responsibly when delivering a child.

When preparing a mother for birth, a midwife should understand when they should consider abandoning a home birth in order to take a mother to a hospital to receive treatment. For example, if a mother has a prolonged labor, it would be wise for a midwife to consider taking the mother to a hospital.

Unfortunately, some midwives may falsely believe they are equipped to handle any issues that may arise during delivery. If a midwife fails to act when an infant is in danger, they could be held liable for the child’s injuries. Additionally, if the midwife was employed by an agency when she caused the child to suffer an injury, the agency could be vicariously liable for her mistake.

There are multiple parties that could be liable for an infant injury if you choose to have your birth at a hospital. For example, if a doctor incorrectly used forceps when pulling the child from the birth canal, they could be liable if the child sustains a brachial plexus injury or another type of injury. In some cases, a negligent nurse could be responsible for causing an infant injury.

However, it may be more prudent to file a claim against the hospital directly as they would have the capability of paying damages for a severe birth injury.

Contact Our Experienced Maryland Lawyer for Infant Injuries Caused by Hospital or Midwife Negligence

If you or your child sustained an injury caused by a hospital or midwife, you should contact an experienced Maryland lawyer for infant injuries caused by the hospital or midwife negligence. Rice, Murtha & Psoras is here to help you fight your medical malpractice case. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential lawsuit, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You can also contact the firm online.