When you bring a baby into the world in an Oregon hospital, it’s not your responsibility to monitor the medical team. Everyone working to help you through labor and delivery should have been provided proper training for their job, so that they know exactly what’s expected of them as they do their best to keep you and your baby safe. If a preventable birth injury occurs because of a medical team member’s negligence, not only your infant, but your entire family might suffer severe damages.
If your obstetrician failed to diagnose a high-risk condition or didn’t act swiftly enough to order a needed cesarean section, you and/or your infant may have suffered injuries. It’s also possible that you had a condition, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, that would require specialized care. If your OB-GYN noticed signs of maternal or fetal distress, then he or she should have taken action to help you in your time of need.
Misuse of forceps or vacuum devices
A failure to diagnose and/or not performing an emergency C-section when the situation calls for it are common causes of childbirth complications. Misuse of forceps and vacuum devices is another issue that often results in birth injuries. If such tools are misused, your child might suffer brain damage, facial scarring or, in worst cases, death.
Where do you go from there?
A severe birth injury is often a life-changing event, in that your child might never be able to care for him or herself without help. From occupational therapy sessions to things like surgery, at-home care and medication, a birth injury event can spark a serious financial crisis. The good news is that Oregon state law allows you to seek restitution against the person whose negligence is believed to have caused the incident. If you plan to file a medical malpractice claim, be prepared to substantiate it by presenting strong evidence in court, which shows that the defendant was negligent and that his or her negligence caused your child’s birth injuries.