Mom says doctor to blame for child's birth injury

New York residents are likely aware that birth injuries can occur during the labor and delivery process if complications arise. They can also result from improper medical care while pregnant. A woman from another state filed a lawsuit against her obstetrician, claiming that the doctor is at fault for her baby's birth injury.

Apparently, the woman was pregnant throughout 2013. In Feb. of 2013, she was diagnosed with high glucose. She was gaining more weight than she should. By the time she was eight months pregnant, she had already gained over 50 pounds.

Throughout the course of her pregnancy, she says she was never counseled on her dietary habits. She was never informed that she should change the way she was eating so that her weight gain would abate. She also claims that she never received an ultrasound to determine how much her fetus weighed.

The mother says that her baby was injured during labor and delivery. The right shoulder of the baby got stuck on the mother's pubic bone. Allegedly, the doctor then put excessive pressure on the head and neck of the baby. Sadly, the baby had a very severe injury to the shoulder.

The mother claims that her weight as well as her baby's weight were issues that the doctor should have addressed prior to the delivery. She essentially believes that they were both too large for a regular delivery. However, a C-section was never recommended at any of her monthly or weekly check-ups with her OB.

Each situation with a birth injury is different, as the facts surrounding the pregnancy are different. Regardless, one thing is the same: if there is negligence on behalf of the doctor, a right to pursue legal relief exists. It may help to become familiar with what options are available in New York to seek financial relief against by means of a medical malpractice claim against any party whose negligence is deemed to have caused or materially contributed to a resulting birth injury.

Source: The Madison-St.Clair Record, "Woman claims child suffered shoulder injury during birth", , Oct. 8, 2014