Doctors Agree To Pay $900,000 For Infant’s Erbs Palsy Injury

by

J. Hernandez

One of the more prevalent kinds of birth injuries is an Erbs palsy injury that impacts the infant’s shoulder and arm. This may be a considerable injury that in the most severe cases leave the infant with weak use of the arm even subsequent to surgery. In many cases the injury is avoidable. If this happens because of an error by a doctor while in the delivery procedure the parents may be able to pursue a lawsuit for themselves and their child.

For instance, contemplate a reported claim regarding a woman expecting her third child. She was either borderline for or actually had gestational diabetes, abnormal weight gain during the pregnancy and had earlier delivered two large babies. Approximately 4 months into the pregnancy the woman’s physician documented that the unborn child was bigger than estimated by the gestational age. 3 months later the pregnant woman was borderline on her glucose test for gestational diabetes. An ultrasound after that consultation placed the babys weight at the 90th percentile. At her final prenatal consultation the day prior to the scheduled delivery the doctor documented the fundal height (a measurement of the uterus used to evaluate fetal growth and development) at 43 centimeters. The woman was 40 weeks pregnant.

The next day the woman reported to the hospital as scheduled. Once she was admitted, a different physician took over her care. The hospital record described her prior borderline glucose test and that she was at high risk given her earlier large gestational age babies. This physician did not, , test her sugar amount or make any effort to check the unborn child’s weight before medically inducing her.

Almost several hours following her admission to the hospital the womans membranes spontaneously ruptured. Once this happened a significant quantity of meconium was observed. This is usually an indication that the unborn child is in difficulty and frequently necessitates an emergency C-section. Approximately 40 minutes subsequently the physician completed a vaginal examination. The doctor recorded that the woman was four centimeters dilated. The physician used a fetal scalp electrode which highlighted early decelerations. Even though it was not recorded in the case report, particular types of decelerations might be an indication of fetal distress. Just more than one hour afterwards the woman was fully dilated. The nurses paperwork included the occurrence of shoulder dystocia, the delivery of the child’s head, and the application of suprapubic pressure to aid the delivery.

The newborn weighed 10 pounds 10 ounces at birth. The child had a head circumference in the 90th percentile. She was diagnosed with Erbs palsy. When she got older her arm atrophied due to her inability to use it. She has developmental delays and she has cerebral palsy.

The physicians failed to monitor the mother for gestational diabetes but had ample information that the child was large preceding delivery. But, they did not plan on a C-section and failed to attempt a common method before employing traction to the babys head. These steps could have averted the babys injury. The parents went forward with a malpractice case against the physicians and the law firm that represented the family published that the matter settled for $900,000.

Joseph Hernandez is an attorney accepting catastrophic injury matters. For more information on how a

erbs palsy attorney

may be able to assist you and for other types of

birth injury

matters visit the website

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Doctors Agree To Pay $900,000 For Infant’s Erbs Palsy Injury}