The birth of a child should be a wonderful, magical time, but if something happens that harms an otherwise healthy child, it can be very distressing. Injuries in the womb or at birth can have severe consequences that your family may have to cope with.
The most common type of birth injury, and frequently the most distressing, involves hypoxia; lack of oxygen as the infant is born. A member of the obstetric team may fail to act on a poor CTG (Cardiotocography) reading of the foetal heartbeat, or fail to listen to a mother who feels that something is simply not right.
The most catastrophic consequence of this type of injury is that the infant develops Cerebral Palsy, and will require on-going care for life. Not all cases will result in Cerebral Palsy, but even less severe injuries can be devastating. Some injuries can occur in the neonatal period, some happen at the time of delivery, such as a Shoulder Dystocia (Erb’s Palsy).
To bring a successful claim, you need a lawyer who will treat you with understanding and sensitivity at this distressing time, and who is well versed in all the relevant medical procedures. Your lawyer will obtain and scrutinise all the notes and records, with the help of our in-house nurse, and will find the most appropriate expert to give evidence and lend weight to your case. If we are able to show that there has been a failing in the standard of care, we’ll assess the level of compensation we believe you should receive and pursue the case to trial.
Whatever’s happened, if you believe the obstetric care you received during the birth of your child has resulted in problems, please get in touch. We’ll make sure you get the clear, independent advice you need, and do all we can to help you through this difficult time.