Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Injuries

Although all children do not always respond the same, most babies with an acute injury from a lack of oxygen or blood flow respond with what is called the neonatal neurologic syndrome. Infants who have been asphyxiated or had trauma during labor and delivery usually show irritability, stupor, apnea, seizures, and other clinical signs and symptoms resulting from acute brain damage. Some babies have bleeding in the brain. Many times, children may have swelling or edema of the brain which can be seen on a CT scan, MRI, or an ultrasound. Beam Legal Team knows how to comb through the medical records to help you determine if negligence or medical malpractice was the cause of your child’s birth injuries.

Before filing a lawsuit, we carefully examine the medical records and the facts of your case to determine whether anyone is at fault. Contrary to what the insurance industry would like you to believe, experienced attorneys like those at Beam Legal Team carefully screen the cases. We do not sue innocent doctors or hospitals without just cause. If it turns out that you do have a case, you owe it to your child to seek justice in a court of law. Some of the biggest fears of parents of special needs children include the costs of caring for their child and who will take care of their child after they are gone. Even fully-funded government programs for special needs children do not provide the 24-hour care that most of our clients will need for the rest of their lives.

During labor, oxygen is supplied to the unborn baby through the placenta from the mother’s circulation. If there are too many contractions, if too much Pitocin* is being used, or if there is not enough rest in between contractions, the baby may not get enough oxygen. If the doctors and nurses fail to detect those problems, the baby can become hypoxic (a lack of oxygen).

*Even the manufacturer of Pitocin warns of its potential danger of brain damage if used improperly; yet doctors and nurses continue to cause brain damage to unborn babies by injudicious use of Pitocin.

Cerebral palsy can be caused by damage to the brain that affects muscular, coordination, and motor skills. It can be caused by trauma or a lack of oxygen or blood flow during birth or in the neonatal period. The cost of care for a child with cerebral palsy can extend throughout life. Each case must be evaluated individually.

Brachial plexus, or Erb’s palsy, is often caused by the failure to undertake the proper maneuvers to properly deliver a child. Deviations of a delivery surgeon’s care can result in the infant suffering serious and even debilitating injuries such as brachial plexus. If a child suffers from Erb’s palsy, this can be an indication that the health care provider’s actions deviated from the standard of care the patient deserved.