What is the difference between a birth defect and a birth injury?

Birth defects and birth injuries are both medical conditions that can happen during the birthing process. However, a birth defect is a medical condition or anomaly that is present at the time of birth. Birth defects are usually the result of genetic or environmental influences and can range from mild to severe. They can affect the structure of the body, including the heart, lungs, and brain. On the other hand, a birth injury is an injury to the baby that occurs during the labor and delivery process. It can happen when the baby is too big to fit through the mother’s birth canal, or due to medical mistakes or negligence. Birth injuries can range from something mild like a bruise or fracture, to more severe conditions like brain damage or cerebral palsy. When it comes to legal matters, birth defects are usually not considered birth injuries. This is because birth defects are usually caused by factors outside of labor and delivery and are, therefore, not legally considered to be a form of medical malpractice. On the other hand, birth injuries are considered birth injuries if they result from medical mistakes or negligence, and can be pursued through the Oregon birth injury law.

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