Child Experiences Arm Injury Notwithstanding That Doctors Had Knowledge That The Child Was Big Before Birth
By: J. Hernandez
Submitted: 2010-10-13 00:11:13 | Word Count: 622
One of the more prevalent kinds of birth injuries is an Erb’s palsy injury which affects the infant's shoulder and arm. This may be a serious injury that in the most severe cases may leave the child with weak use of the arm even following surgery. In a number of instances the injury is avoidable. If this happens on account of an error by a doctor in the course of the delivery process the parents might be able to go after the physician with a medical malpractice claim for themselves and their infant.
To illustrate, look at a reported lawsuit concerning a woman pregnant with her third child. The expectant mother was either borderline for or actually had gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain throughout the pregnancy and had previously delivered two large babies. About 4 months into the pregnancy the woman's doctor documented that the unborn child was larger than estimated by the gestational age and three months later she was borderline on her blood sugar test for gestational diabetes.
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An ultrasound after that consultation put the baby’s weight at the 90th percentile. At her final prenatal consultation the day before the doctors planned to induce her labor the doctor noted the fundal height (a measurement of the uterus employed to determine fetal growth and development) at forty three centimeters. The expectant mother was 40 weeks pregnant at the time.
The next day she reported to the hospital as planned. There, a different doctor took over her care. The hospital record recorded her previous borderline glucose test and also that she was at high risk because of previous “large gestational age” babies. This physician did not, however, test her sugar amount or make any effort to calculate the unborn child's weight prior to medically inducing her.
Virtually four hours following her admission for the hospital her membranes spontaneously ruptured. When this happened a substantial volume of meconium was observed. This is typically a sign that the baby is in danger and frequently demands an emergency C-section. Around forty minutes later the physician conducted a vaginal examination. The doctor documented that the expectant mother was 4 centimeters dilated. The physician used a fetal scalp electrode which highlighted early decelerations. Despite the fact that it was not documented in the publication of the lawsuit, particular kinds of decelerations may be an indication of fetal distress. A little more than an hour afterwards the woman was fully dilated. The nurse’s records indicated the existence of shoulder dystocia, the delivery of the baby’s head, as well as the use of suprapubic pressure to facilitate delivery.
The infant was ten pounds 10 ounces ounces at birth. The child had a head circumference in the 90th percentile. She had an Erb's palsy injury. As she got older her arm atrophied from her inability to use it. She has developmental delays and she has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The physicians did not monitor the mother for gestational diabetes yet had sufficient information that the baby was large prior to birth. Yet, they failed to plan on a Caesarean and did not try a common method before employing traction to the child's head. These steps could have averted the child's injury. The parents initiated a lawsuit against the physicians and the law firm that handled the case revealed that the claim settled for $900,000.
Author Resource:-
Joseph Hernandez is an attorney accepting birth injury matters. For more information about
erbs palsy and other birth injury matters including streptococcus meningitis matters by visiting the websites
