Brooklyn Shoulder Dystocia Injury

While childbirth is a beautiful event, many times there are complications. Such complications could result in the child ending up with a serious birth injury such as cerebral palsy or another type of brain injury. Other complications can lead to a neck, back or spinal cord injury. One complication that sometimes occurs during a vaginal delivery is shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's shoulders get stuck inside the mother's body. When shoulder dystocia occurs both the mother and the baby are at risk for a serious personal injury. While it is not always possible to predict that shoulder dystocia may occur, when it does occur the medical staff must take proper steps to prevent the mother or baby from suffering devastating injuries. In the same way that a victim of a car accident or some other type of serious accident can seek damages from the person who caused the accident, New York law allows victims of negligent medical professionals to seek damages as well. If you or your baby suffered a serious injury due to the medical staff’s negligent management of shoulder dystocia, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Brooklyn Shoulder Dystocia Injury Lawyer who will explain to you your legal rights to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Shoulder dystocia occurs when during a vaginal birth one or both of the baby’s shoulders gets wedged behind the mother’s pelvic bone.

Shoulder dystocia is more likely to occur when any of the following risk factors are present:

• High birth weight. If the baby is relatively large, then there shoulder dystocia is more likely to occur.
• Mother is diabetic. Mothers who have diabetes are more likely to deliver large babies. For this reason, such babies are at a higher risk for shoulder dystocia.
• Use of delivery instruments. If a vacuum extractor or forceps are used because there is a problem with the baby progressing through the birth canal, there is an increased likelihood of shoulder dystocia.
• Maternal obesity. Mothers who are obese tend to deliver babies with high birth weights.
• Past term. If the pregnancy has gone beyond term, the baby is at a higher risk for shoulder dystocia.

Understanding and identifying the risk factors for shoulder dystocia are important to preventing it or properly responding should it occur. If a baby is likely to have a high birth weight, then a medical staff is more likely to consider a cesarean delivery because of possible complications such as shoulder dystocia.

If shoulder dystocia does occur, the baby is at risk for a number of serious injuries including contusions, lacerations, clavicle fracture, fetal asphyxia, and brachial plexus injury. Furthermore, the mother is at risk for uterine rupture, lacerations, and hemorrhaging.

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional such as an obstetrician, nurse, or other healthcare professional fails to take reasonable care and as a result the patient suffers an injury. Thus, if a doctor fails to appropriately respond to shoulder dystocia, and as a result you or your baby are injured, New York law allows you to hold that doctor and other medical professionals legally and financially liable.

Medical expenses. The negligent party may be required to compensate you for your medical bills and your baby’s medical bills related to the injuries suffered because of the medical mistake.

Lost income. If as a result of your injury you end up missing a work, your damages could include compensation for the income you lost.

Pain and suffering. The court may also award damages based on the physical and mental anguish you experienced from your injuries and recovery.

If you suspect that you or your baby was injured because your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional failed to appropriately respond to the risk factors for shoulder dystocia or managed shoulder dystocia in a negligent manner, do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced birth injury attorney. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates is experienced in successfully representing clients who have suffered injuries due to mistakes made by medical professionals, as well as those injured in car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, and other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.