| Medical malpractice occurs when a physician or some | | | | can occur when medical staff fails to properly |
| other healthcare provider fails to act reasonably | | | | conduct electronic fetal monitoring or other post-birth |
| under the circumstances, and the unreasonable | | | | observations. |
| conduct results in harm. When a medical practitioner's | | | | Doctors must be prepared for potential birth |
| conduct hurts an infant, the malpractice is especially | | | | asphyxia during delivery, which occurs when the |
| tragic. | | | | infant does not receive enough oxygen. One option |
| While most of the 2.7% of births that result in a birth | | | | doctors have to reduce the likelihood of birth |
| injury in the United States are minor and cause only | | | | asphyxia is to perform a c-section (cesarean section). |
| bruising, the more serious injuries can result in lifelong | | | | The failure to do so when warranted may constitute |
| developmental and physical disabilities. A newborn's | | | | medical malpractice. Other common preventable |
| bones and nerves are relatively vulnerable to | | | | errors include: |
| fractures and other damage. | | | | • Mishandling an infant with shoulder |
| Lifelong developmental disabilities or neurological | | | | dystocia, which is when the infant's shoulder |
| disorders that result from medical malpractice include | | | | becomes lodged in the mother's pelvis. This can |
| cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, learning disabilities, | | | | stretch the brachial plexus, a network of spinal |
| mental retardation, and brain damage. In such cases, | | | | nerves that enter the base of the skull. A child with |
| the newborn and its family will likely endure severe, | | | | brachial plexus birth injuries may suffer Erb's palsy, |
| long-term emotional and financial hardships. | | | | Klumpke Palsy, and CP, among other disabilities. |
| Cerebral Palsy | | | | • Misdiagnosing gestational diabetes, which |
| The most common birth injury resulting in legal action | | | | can result in an oversized baby requiring specialized |
| is cerebral palsy (CP), a condition that is actually a | | | | care. |
| group of disorders in which the victim's ability to | | | | • Inducing labor too late. |
| control his or her body is impaired. Birth asphyxia, one | | | | • Misusing medical instruments, such as |
| of the primary causes of non-genetically induced CP, | | | | forceps during a c-section. |