The Law Offices of Judy Greenwood has successfully handled cases involving birth injuries occurring during the delivery of a baby.
Some experts estimate that millions of birth injuries happen each year. Unfortunately, all too many of these birth injuries are the result of carelessness or substandard medical care. Some arise because a physician failed to diagnose conditions or certain risk factors, allowing them to go untreated, for example, sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, blood pressure disorders (pre-eclampsia), gestational diabetes, blood factor incompatibility (RH negative), and others. Some occur because of poor preparation for delivery, such as failure to measure fetus size or age, and failure to predict and prepare for associated delivery complications.
At the Law Offices of Judy Greenwood, P.C., we are dedicated to helping parents and their children achieve their potential, when the medical facts are appropriate, while also ensuring that those whose negligence caused the birth injury and trauma are required to compensate their victims for their damages. We have been successful in numerous birth injury and birth trauma cases, and focus on ways to improve the quality of life of the children and their parents. As a result, we have at times created special needs trusts from the proceeds of a settlement or verdict to enable the mother and child to improve the quality of their lives.
Handling birth injury claims successfully requires an understanding of the medicine, access to physicians capable and willing to aid in the prosecution of the case, and tenacious litigation, all of which our team of malpractice injury lawyers possess.
Some of the areas of medical negligence causing birth injuries we have had experience handling are listed below.
A common cause of birth injury is the failure to properly and adequately respond to electronic fetal monitor evidence of fetal distress, which can have catastrophic results. In fact, the correct interpretation of the electronic fetal monitor tracings is imperative, and nurses and physicians attending a laboring mother must be intimately familiar with the device and its use. True distress indicates oxygen deprivation, which can all too quickly cause irreparable brain damage; babies who do not receive proper care can suffer seizures after birth and may be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
In addition, the improper administration of the drug, Pitocin, which is used to enhance contractions, or the failure to perform an emergency Caesarian section delivery, can have devastating results.
Other injuries may be the result of the improper application of forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery, resulting in hemorrhage beneath the skull, as well as brain injury or other damage.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets “caught” on the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. This can arise with babies who are too large for the birth canal. While the condition cannot be prevented, the shoulder almost always can be released when correct maneuvers are employed in an appropriate fashion. The failure to properly respond to this emergency typically results in permanent nerve damage to the baby and injury to the arm.
At the Law Offices of Judy Greenwood, P.C., we have obtained excellent results for our clients in birth injury, birth trauma and birth defect cases. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and our reputation in the legal community, as well as our sensitivity to our clients and their families undergoing the effects of a serious injury. If your loved one is a victim of birth-related trauma, and you want to discuss your potential case please Contact Us for a Free Consultation. Our experienced attorneys will review what happened, consult with appropriate medical experts, and let you know what we think.
Below are some resources to consider if your child was injured at or near the time of birth.
There are many respectable charities and foundations that are dedicated to helping those who suffer from a devastating condition like Cerebral Palsy. Some of these organizations are listed below.
Epilepsy Foundation
3540 Crain Highway, Suite 675
Bowie, MD20716
[email protected]
https://www.epilepsy.com
Tel: 301-459-3700
Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline: 800-EFA-1000 (332-1000)
Philadelphia Chapter
919 Walnut Street #700
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-629-5003
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1550 Crystal Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, VA
[email protected]
http://www.marchofdimes.com
Tel: 914-428-7100
Tel: 888-MODIMES (663-4637)
Fax: 914-428-8203
Philadelphia Chapter
March of Dimes
435 Devon Park Drive, Bldg 300, Suite 300
Wayne, PA 19087
Tel: 610-945-6050
Easter Seals
141 W Jackson Blvd., 1400A
Chicago, IL 60604
[email protected]
https://www.easterseals.com
Tel: 312-726-6200
Tel: 800-221-6827
Fax: 312-726-1494
Philadelphia Chapter
3975 Conshohocken Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19131
https://www.easterseals.com/sepa/
Tel: 215-879-1000
Fax: 215-879-8424
United Cerebral Palsy
1825 K Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
[email protected]
http://www.ucp.org
Tel: 202-776-0406
Tel: 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827)
Fax: 202-776-0414
Philadelphia Chapter
102 East Mermaid Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Tel: 215-242-4200
Fax: 215-247-4229
http://www.ucpphila.org
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, anoxic encephalopathy, severe mental retardation, low birth weight, HIV infection, blindness, deafness, or brain injury because of birth trauma, birth injury or defect, he or she may be entitled to certain benefits including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or state children’s health insurance program benefits.
If you would like further information on applying for these benefits, you should visit these resources.
www.socialsecurity.gov
www.ssa.gov/disability
www.ssa.gov/pubs.10026/html
www.cms.hhs.gov
If your child is receiving public benefits or is entitled to receive SSI or Medicaid benefits, and is about to receive assets that may disqualify him or her from receiving those benefits, you may need to create a Special Needs Trust to protect the child’s ability to receive SSI or Medicaid benefits. If you would like information on special needs trusts you can follow this link.
www.cms.hhs.gov
At the Law Offices of Judy Greenwood, P.C., we represent individuals who have been injured as a result of medical malpractice. Because these cases are often complex, we have access to OB-GYN and other medical and nursing experts, and a doctor/lawyer available to review the facts of your case, and to provide the medical insight necessary to determine if there was negligence or substandard care.
