Pregnancy and Birth injuries
A huge amount of responsibility is involved in ensuring that great care is provided to the mother during the course of pregnancy and birth. It is well known that there are always great risks involved, and every step should be taken to prevent any complications from arising. A failure to provide adequate care during or after the pregnancy can result in great pain and suffering for the mother. It can even lead to long-term consequences for the child. Fortunately, most cases of childbirth every year end successfully for all parties involved.
However, in some cases the birthing procedure has not run so smoothly, and has resulted in injury to the birth mother and baby. The branch of medicine relevant to pregnant women is obstetrics, and someone working in this field is ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety of the pregnant woman , and monitoring any potential damaging conditions that could affect the mother or baby throughout the birth. There are a wide range of medical professionals that are responsible for the welfare of the mother, not just the obstetrician. These can include nurses, midwives, and any other medical practitioner.
Injuries sustained by mothers
There are a number of different instances where medical negligence can occur, however one of the most common occurrences of medical negligence are injuries sustained by mothers as a result of incorrect stitching after episiotomy. Episiotomy is the procedure that allows extra room for the baby to ease delivery. If this wound is not correctly stitched, it can cause a great deal of pain and suffering to the mother. Another type of common injury is Vaginal tear. In most cases, vaginal tears are stitched under local anaesthesia using sutures which dissolve over a period of time. However, if the tear is not observed and investigated properly, it can result in further pain and discomfort for the mother.
Injuries sustained by babies
Erb's Palsy
Erb's Palsy is the condition which occurs if too much pressure is applied on the babies neck and head. It normally occurs due to birth trauma and can affect 1 or all of the 5 primary nerves that supply the movement and feeling to the arm. The consequences of this type of injury can vary from case to case. The amount of paralysis caused will depend on the the damage to each nerve. In some cases, the babies recover on their own, however some may require specialist intervention.
Cerebral Palsy
This is another type of condition that is affecting thousands of children in the UK. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain which can occur before, during or soon after birth. Again, the consequences of this type of injury can vary from child to child. Some children suffer problems in walking, whilst for others the consequences have been far more serious, leading to disability in some instances. Some reports have shown that around 10% of children have it as a result of medical negligence during birth. There is a way of preventing cerebral palsy, as the main cause of it is oxygen deprivation during a traumatic birth.
How do you make a medical negligence claim?
If you or your child have been affected as a result of medical negligence during pregnancy or childbirth, you may be entitled to compensation. We understand that you will have gone through immense stress and trauma as a result of the injury, therefore we shall do our best to help you. Our clinical negligence solicitors have a vast amount of experience in this area, and will assess your case individually with sympathy and compassion.
Author: Ayesha Salim is a law graduate who works fulltime with the UK Lawyers Network researching and writing about legal topics
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