Maryland Attorney for Infant Paralysis Caused by Birth Injury

There are few things as exciting as the anticipation associated with the birth of a child. While you are waiting for months, you begin to imagine birthday parties, trips to playgrounds, and watching your child experience life. However, if your child is born paralyzed, those dreams could come crashing down. it is especially devastating when your child’s condition was preventable or caused by the negligence of your doctor or their medical team.

Rice, Murtha & Psoras has attorneys and staff dedicated to holding people in the medical profession responsible for any harm they cause. If your child suffered an avoidable injury because of a preventable medical mistake, contact our Maryland attorney for infant paralysis caused by birth injury. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free appointment and review your legal options.

Types of Infant Paralysis Caused by Birth Injuries in Maryland

The types of medical errors that result in infant paralysis in Maryland are varied and are often unique to the mother and infant. Each delivery presents its own set of risks and difficulties. While some birth injuries are out of the control of your obstetrician, many are preventable, or the harm could be mitigated with appropriate measures.

Spinal Cord Injury

One of the most common causes of infant paralysis is spinal cord injury. the developing spine is subject to damage if a doctor uses too much physical force assisting with a difficult delivery or if they negligently twist the infant’s body during the birthing process. These injuries are often associated with the inappropriate use of surgical tools such as forceps or vacuum extractors. Many times, the complications associated with a delivery that lead to spinal cord injuries could be avoided if the doctor ordered a c-section.

Nerve Damage

An infant could suffer nerve damage during the delivery process, especially if the treating physician or a member of the medical team makes a preventable mistake. Typically, an infant’s nerves are damaged when the baby is positioned incorrectly for a safe birth or becomes lodged in the birthing canal, requiring physical assistance from the doctor to facilitate the delivery.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

A common type of preventable nerve injury that an infant sustains during delivery due to the negligent conduct of a doctor is a brachial plexus injury. the brachial plexus is a collection of nerves associated with the shoulder, arms, and hands of the baby. Depending on the type and severity of the damage suffered, an infant could experience a weakening in their limbs or be permanently paralyzed. When the injury affects the upper plexus nerves, then the entire arm could be damaged. Known as Erb’s palsy, this condition is usually preventable and caused by the delivering doctor exerting too much pressure on the infant’s arm.

When the lower section of the brachial plexus is damaged, the infant could lose the use of their lower forearm and hand. This damage could lead to numbness in the hand, wrist, and forearm. If severely damaged, the infant could suffer permanent loss of movement.

Other Nerve Damage

When forceps are applied to an infant’s head with too much force, the nerves in the face could be damaged, leading to facial paralysis. the improper use of forceps or a vacuum extractor could result in the temporary paralysis of the baby’s facial muscles or permanent paralysis if the nerve damage is severe.

While less common, the negligent twisting of an infant during delivery could damage the nerves in the child’s diaphragm, resulting in paralysis or weakness in the abdomen muscles. This type of nerve damage and paralysis will make it difficult to impossible for the infant to breathe.

Infections in the Mother

The mother’s health must be consistently monitored during her pregnancy. An infection could easily be transmitted between the mother and her child. it is not uncommon for infections to lead to developmental problems or paralysis. If a doctor allows an infection to continue untreated, and it negatively impacts the baby, they could be held responsible for the harm the child endured.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Infant Paralysis in Maryland

While some birth injuries are preventable, many are the direct result of medical errors. There are several mistakes a doctor or a medical team could make that severely injure your child, resulting in paralysis.

Many of the complications that result in nerve or spinal cord damage are foreseeable. If a doctor is properly monitoring a pregnancy, then they should be prepared for any difficulties the birth could present. If your child is paralyzed because of a mistake by your doctor, you should not be responsible for the expense of treatment, therapy, and counseling it will require to help your child live a normal life. When the injury is the result of medical malpractice, you have every right to seek monetary compensation from the responsible party.

Our Maryland medical malpractice attorney will work with you to establish that medical malpractice occurred. We will use the available evidence and expert medical testimony to show that your doctor’s conduct was negligent and deviated from what a prudent doctor would have done under the same circumstances. Rice, Murtha & Psoras has been trying complex medical malpractice cases for decades and has the attorneys and resources to assist you.

Call Our Maryland Attorney for Paralysis Caused by Birth Injuries for a Free Consultation

We trust our medical professionals and healthcare providers to take actions and make decisions for the benefit of our wellbeing. This is even more pronounced when we trust our doctors with the health and life of our expected children. When preventable medical mistakes severely harm a newborn infant, you need our experienced Maryland birth injury attorney for paralysis caused by birth injuries. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 to schedule a free consultation.