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Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Cleveland Recover Compensation for Childbirth Victims of Erb’s Palsy and Shoulder Dystocia

Childbirth complications are often caused by the negligent actions of the medical professionals you trusted

Sometimes during delivery, a baby’s shoulders can get stuck after the head has been delivered. This is called a shoulder “dystocia.” It happens most often when the baby is big compared to the size of the mother’s pelvis. Doctors must be very careful in delivering a baby who is “stuck” at the shoulders. Pulling improperly on the baby’s head can result in a severe injury to nerves in the baby’s neck.

The “brachial plexus” is a bundle of nerves in the baby’s neck. These nerves provide feeling and movement to the baby’s arms, hands, and fingers. If these nerves are pulled or stretched too much during a difficult delivery, the baby can lose feeling and use of her arm, hand, and fingers. When a baby loses the use of her arm due to an injury to these nerves, it is called an “Erb’s Palsy.” Our Cleveland medical malpractice attorneys at The Eisen Law Firm believe it is our responsibility to find justice for children that have been harmed by negligence and fall victim to Erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia during their first few moments of life.

Understanding when shoulder dystocia and Erb’s palsy are preventable by Ohio physicians and nurses

If your baby has Erb’s palsy or paralysis in his arm, it may have been the result of medical negligence. The doctor who delivered him, or the nurses who assisted in the delivery, may have pulled too hard on your baby’s head. Alternatively, it is possible that your baby should never have had a shoulder dystocia in the first place. Doctors are trained to identify situations where a shoulder dystocia is so likely to occur that a C-section should be performed instead of attempting a vaginal delivery. This is especially so where there is a mismatch between the size of the baby and the size of the mother’s pelvis (a “cephalo-pelvic disproportion”).

Identifying when Erb’s palsy in your child was caused by medical negligence

Approximately one out of every thousand babies born in the United States is born with Erb’s palsy. Not all of them are due to medical negligence. Some indicators that medical negligence may have occurred are:

If your child was born with paralysis in his arm, or if you noticed paralysis within the first few months of your child’s life, your child may have a brachial plexus injury, and he may be the victim of medical negligence.

 

Speak with a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney for a free initial consultation to discuss the causes of your child’s childbirth complications

Contact an experienced attorney at The Eisen Law Firm today to discuss your child’s injury. We help you get to the bottom of what happened and, if appropriate, assist you in getting compensation for your child’s injury. Schedule your free initial consultation by calling us at 216-687-0900 or contact us online.We serve clients in Cleveland, Lorain, Columbus, Toledo, Akron and throughout Northeast Ohio.