Twin Cities Birth Injury Lawyer

Did a Loved One Suffer Birth Injuries Due to Medical Malpractice? Ask Our Twin Cities Birth Injury Lawyer for Help

 

The overwhelming majority of all births in the United States occur without an issue. That means that there are no birth trauma incidents. Statistics show that the instances of birth trauma have been decreasing over the years, with the national average about 2 instances of birth trauma per 1,000 live births. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that birth defects occur in just about one out of every 33 babies, or about 3% of all births. Although these statistics are very encouraging, our experienced Twin Cities birth injury lawyer knows this is not the full truth.

 

That’s because statistics show that medical malpractice may actually be the third leading cause of death in the United States. This includes serious instances of birth injuries that may result in the wrongful death of an infant. But those statistics are not reports, in many instances. That is because doctors, including the defendants, are the ones that would need to report that negligent outcome. This, in turn, means that a doctor has to admit to the mistake. Not only does this look bad for the doctor for his or her colleagues, but it can also affect the doctor’s license with the professional medical conduct board.

 

Thus, this is why many instances of medical malpractice and birth injuries typically go unreported. And when they do get reported, it is very uncommon for those instances to be reported to the patients and their families. As a result, any type a family having a baby has an unexpected or adverse result, they should always ask for help from a Twin Cities birth injury lawyer such as ours at Kuhlman Law.

 

Warning Signs of Birth Injuries Due to Medical Malpractice

 

There are some very common warning signs that victims and their families should be aware of. These warning signs are not inclusive of all the types of medical malpractice. Meaning, that there could be other types of warning signs that victims and their families should be able to recognize on their own and report it to a Twin Cities birth injury lawyer.

 

Some of the most common warning signs to always seek out a FREE case evaluation include the following:

 

• Unexpected result – if a baby and mother have a strong prognosis without any issues, but things do wrong during the delivery or c-section and a baby or mother have personal injuries, it is time to get medical records reviewed by a medical malpractice lawyer. Unexpected results are a sign that there might have been poor pre-natal monitoring and treatment by a healthcare provider, which is a form of medical malpractice.
• Permanent injuries – babies are typically not born with permanent injuries. There are some exceptions to this, particularly when a baby has a genetic condition which is often known before birth (prenatal testing). But any time a baby is born and doctors say there is a permanent injury, be suspicious. Call our Twin Cities birth injury lawyer for a free case evaluation.
• Brain injuries – anytime a baby is born with any type of brain injury, always get a lawyer’s review of the file. Brain injuries are very serious and often lead to permanent disability or permanent injuries. They are not common and are either a cause of medical malpractice in the birthing process or in the pre-natal care. Ask for a birth injury lawyer’s help for any type of brain injuries.
• NICU support – if you and your family go to the labor and delivery department and have a natural birth or need a c-section, you probably will never hear of NICU. If the first time you hear about NICU is when have already delivered your baby or in the OR, then something might be wrong with the way that your baby was delivered or how your pregnancy was handled. That error might be due to medical malpractice. Anytime a parent first hears about NICU after the birth of a child, it is a red flag for medical malpractice. Ask for a lawyer’s help.

Other Warning Signs of Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice 

 

In addition to those common warning signs of medical malpractice, some other warning signs include the following:

 

• Healthcare providers will not talk to you
• You do not see the doctor again
• Nurses avoid you
• New staff comes to treat you and it is not the normal shift change
• A social worker comes to speak with you for reasons that are not normal
• A hospital risk manager talks to you or says hi
• You are assigned a new doctor, even though you didn’t look for one
• The doctor who did your delivery or birth is no longer allowed at the hospital (lost privileges) or is not at the OB-GYN clinic that you retained
• You are not allowed to see you baby right after the delivery
• Family is not allowed to meet with you after your delivery or to see your baby
• Your baby was diagnosed with a serious condition that was not discussed with you before
• You or your baby need to spend more than four days at the hospital
• Your baby has to go into the NICU for reasons that are not explained to you
• You need to see a specialist
• Your baby needs to see a specialist, and
• Any other reasons that you are suspicious whether you have received proper care and treatment.

Common Birth Injuries That Our Twin Cities Birth Injury Lawyer Can Review

 

There are many different types of serious birth injuries that need to be reviewed by a medical malpractice lawyer. Most of these personal injuries will be unexpected and not explained by a healthcare provider until it has already occurred. Many of these birth injuries will also be a surprise for you and your family because they are not expected due to the healthcare providers mistakes.

 

Unfortunately, most of these birth injuries are also significant and life-changing for a baby and for a family. If you have had your baby diagnosed with any of the below conditions, ask Twin Cities birth injury lawyer for a FREE case evaluation.

 

Cerebral Palsy Due to Birth Injuries

 

One of the most significant types of birth injuries is cerebral palsy. Also known as CP, there are four types of cerebral palsy that may be caused by birth injuries. The four general types or categories of cerebral palsy include the following:

• Spastic cerebral palsy – one of the most common types of CP, spastic cerebral palsy results in stiff and overly muscular tone in a patient’s body. This type of CP can be very painful and affect movement, sitting down, or even laying down.
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy – this type of CP has many different sub-types and is very broad. It is often referred to as athetoid CP, and results in involuntary movements, twisting, curling, or movements by a patient. There is a wide range of disability and symptoms with this type of CP.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy – this type of CP is very rare, but it is also very damaging. It affects how a person can walk and otherwise balance himself or herself. It also can cause tremors and frequent, involuntary movements.
• Mixed cerebral palsy – a combination of the various types of CP can result in this type of mixed presentation. This can be difficult to treat and handle because symptoms may fluctuate greatly.

If a child is diagnosed with any type of cerebral palsy, including mild or moderate, always ask a Twin Cities birth injury lawyer for a free case evaluation. Obviously is a child is diagnosed with severe or catastrophic forms of CP, also ask for a case evaluation.

Brachial Plexus Nerve Injuries

 

Major nerve branches come off of the spinal cord in the back. These nerves extend outsides to the rest of the body. The nerves that come off at the shoulder to supply the arm are called the brachial plexus nerves. When a baby is caught in the birthing canal or is pulled, yanked, twisted, or otherwise poorly manipulated during labor and delivery, these nerves can be torn, ripped apart, or pulled from their roots. As a result, babies may offer a loss of strength and sensation due to this form of medical malpractice.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

 

More commonly known as HIE, this type of birth injury is when there is a decrease in blood flow to the brain. This decrease in blood flow means that the brain is not getting oxygenated blood. As a result, a baby’s brain will not get the right amount of blood that it needs. This decrease in blood can result in a hypoxic injury, or a lack of blood flow injury. When a baby has a deprivation of blood and oxygen, it can result in serious damage or lesions on the brain. This is a form of brain damage that can be prevented if a healthcare provider is properly monitoring a mother and a baby. Any type a baby is diagnosed with HIE, always call our Twin Cities birth injury lawyer.

If Your Loved One Suffered Any Type of Serious Birth Injury Due to Medical Malpractice, Call Our Experienced Twin Cities Birth Injury Lawyer for Help

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Twin Cities Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

We have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.

Our law firm also handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.