When you are expecting a child, you probably already know that not every aspect of your mothering process will go precisely according to your plans, despite your best intentions. You’d never imagine you’d need an Erbs Palsy birth injury attorney. While we want and pray for all children to be born in good health, this is unfortunately not always the case. However, when a baby is born with birth defects, it is rarely the fault of the mother or father. In the event that your child was born with an impairment, and you are confident that you are not at fault for their injury, contact a qualified birth injury lawyer in Washington, DC today for a free consultation.
One of the most debilitating birth injuries that your child may incur is Erbs Palsy. Erbs Palsy is a condition that stems from injury to your child’s brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a grouping of nerves which spans from the spinal cord to the shoulder and which controls arm, shoulder, and hand functions. Brachial plexus injuries occur during childbirth if a infant’s neck is overly stretched, causing the child’s nerves to stretch with it and sometimes tear or rupture. If your child is born with Erbs Palsy, they will likely have limited to no control of one of their arms and its related joints. Erbs Palsy can completely paralyze an arm, and even in mild cases it severely limits ligament function. If your child was born with Erbs Palsy and you believe that you are not at fault, contact a medical malpractice lawyer in Washington, DC today.
How do I know if my child has Erbs Palsy?
If your child has limited or no ability to grip with one of their hands, and if one of their arms does not have full and proper mobility, then your child may have Erbs Palsy. However the only person who can certify your child’s injury is their pediatrician, who will look for weakness in their arm or other physical determinations. If your child is diagnosed with Erbs Palsy, there is a good chance that you are not at fault, and that their Erbs Palsy may have been the result of medical malpractice.
What Caused My Child’s Erbs Palsy?
Erbs Palsy is relatively rare, so when children do appear to develop the condition it is frequently the result of medical malpractice. Instances of medical malpractice related to Erbs Palsy include:
- Exercise of excessive force when attempting to deliver the child
- Failure to plan for a cesarean section (C-section) when risk factors are present
- Failure to prevent the infant’s shoulder from becoming caught on the mother’s pubic bone
- Incorrect estimates of the child’s expected birth weight
- Inappropriate reaction to birthing complications
While the doctor who delivered your child may know that their actions may have caused Erbs Palsy, you may not be aware of the steps that could have been taken to prevent this debilitating birth defect. Contact a qualified Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer to obtain the fair reparations for your child’s unnecessary disability.