Free Case Evaluation
Rock Hill Birth Injury Attorneys
Strong counsel when OB/GYNs make delivery room mistakes in South Carolina
Delivery room mistakes are often tragic. Some mothers and children die. Often, survivors need around-the-clock medical care. Those who are able to achieve something close to a normal life usually need extensive rehabilitative treatment. When medical professionals who deliver children make mistakes, they should be held accountable.
The Rock Hill birth injury lawyers at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, understand the trauma of deliveries that are not done properly. Our lawyers help mothers, children, and relatives throughout South Carolina get justice. We fight aggressively to prove medical fault and to show the extreme severity of the birth room injuries.
Free Case Evaluation
What types of birth injury cases do you handle?
If a mother or child has any of the following difficulties because of a labor that was faulty, we are ready to help:
- Impaired motor skills
- Impaired cognitive skills
- Growth irregularities
- Damage to muscles or joints
- Nerve pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Spinal cord damage
- Disfigurement
- Breathing difficulties
Our Rock Hill birth injury attorneys also represent families who lost a loved one due to obstetrical negligence. We work tirelessly to get compensation for all necessary medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring, and disfigurement.
Common birth injury mistakes resulting from malpractice
Obstetric mistakes can cause a child to suffer many types of birth injuries, including the following types:
- Cerebral palsy. Children with cerebral palsy have many long-term difficulties, including bone deformities, joint damage, learning problems, and uncomfortable motor movements. Cerebral palsy is often caused when a lack of oxygen leads a newborn to suffer brain damage.
- Hypoxia. Hypoxia is a formal medical term for a lack of oxygen to the brain, which can cause many problems other than cerebral palsy, such as damage to the brain and nerves. Children with hypoxia may have difficulty breathing and may even die. Many newborns develop cognitive disabilities. Some develop epilepsy especially if they have Infant Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).
- Forceps injuries/disfigurement. Some birth doctors use forceps in difficult deliveries. Forceps should only be used when needed. The risks of incompetent forceps use include disfigurement, skull fractures, damage to the spinal cord, bleeding, and other serious health issues.
- Vacuum extraction injury. This procedure is used in some complicated deliveries. A vacuum pump and cup are used to help get the baby’s head away from the birth canal. There are many known risks. The procedure must be performed skillfully. Complications for the mom include genital tract harm, problems urinating, anemia, and damage to the pelvic muscles. Newborns may have brachial plexus, fractured collarbones, skull wounds, or fractures.
- Erb’s palsy. The Erb’s point is the nerve area of a newborn’s neck. In Erb’s palsy, there is damage to the nerves of the upper arm, which can cause damage to the child’s fingers, hands, or arms. Shoulder dystocia during birth is a typical cause.
Our Rock Hill birth injury attorneys represent all injured clients who suffered harm in the delivery room, no matter the reason for the negligence. We work with medical professionals to determine the cause of the harm and to determine the long-term prognosis and necessary treatments.
How do birth injuries happen?
The process of pregnancy, labor, and delivery is perfectly natural and typically the body knows what to do. However, complications can and do occur, which is why we have obstetricians and doctors to guide us through. No matter what your birth plan, your doctor is required to provide you with the highest possible standard of care and should be prepared for any complication or risk – keeping the health of the child and the mother as a priority at all times.
Anything less than a high standard of care can lead to negligence and medical malpractice. Common causes of birth injuries include:
- Physician error. Doctor error can happen at any stage during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Failing to recognize or treat a mother’s health condition, fetal distress, failure to order a timely caesarean section, or misuse of birth-assistance tools can all injure a newborn.
- Delivery mistakes. When obstetricians, midwives, or other professionals are careless during delivery, the baby can suffer harm. For example, pulling on the infant’s arm with too much force during delivery can cause injuries like shoulder dystocia and Erb’s palsy.
- Incorrect forceps or extractor use. If a doctor has trouble extracting the baby from the birth canal, they may use birth-assistance tools like forceps or vacuum extractors. These must be used with care or they can cause trauma to the shoulders or skull.
Medical malpractice can leave victims in pain or disabled for the rest of their lives. Birth injuries, however, might be the worst type of malpractice. Children and babies are innocent and unaware of why they're injured or what's happened to them. It's crucial that negligent and careless doctors and medical staff are held accountable when a child suffers a preventable birth injury.
Can I file a Rock Hill birth injury claim?
If your child was injured, or suffered wrongful death, as a result of medical negligence, you have the right to bring legal action on behalf of your child. Our attorneys consult with you about your circumstances and work compassionately with your family to find justice and closure.
Here in South Carolina, the statute of limitations on a medical malpractice claim is three years. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible so we can begin gathering information about your case. We seek financial compensation for birth injuries, including current and future medical expenses, neonatal care, your lost income, pain and suffering, and future costs of care.
Our Rock Hill birth injury lawyers have the experience, resources, and tenacity you need
We have nearly 20 attorneys who can help you fight for justice for birth injury negligence. The Rock Hill birth malpractice lawyers at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, understand when cases must be filed, how to conduct discovery, and how to negotiate tough settlements. Please call 803-327-7800 or compete the contact form to schedule a free case evaluation in our Rock Hill, South Carolina office.