What is the difference between birth injury and birth trauma?
Birth injury and birth trauma are two similar, yet distinct, terms used to explain medical conditions related to the birthing process. Birth injuries can refer to injuries that can affect a newborn child that occur during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. These include physical and psychological conditions such as cerebral palsy, stillbirth, and fetal distress. Birth trauma, on the other hand, is a physical injury sustained by a baby during the birthing process. These can include broken bones, head injury, bruising, nerve injuries, and spinal cord damage. The main difference between birth injury and birth trauma is that birth injuries are a result of medical negligence, while birth trauma is a physical injury inflicted during the birthing process. Birth injuries that are caused by medical negligence can often result in lifelong disabilities and even death, while birth trauma is generally less severe and can usually be treated with medical care. In Oregon, the law recognizes a difference between birth injury and birth trauma in certain cases. If a medical professional is found to be negligent in providing medical care during the birthing process resulting in a birth injury, they may be held liable under medical malpractice laws. On the other hand, if a birth trauma occurs due to a traumatic event such as a car accident or forceps delivery, liability for that injury rests with the owner or operator of the vehicle or the person responsible for the forceps delivery.
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