What are the most common types of birth injuries?
Birth injuries occur when something goes wrong during a baby’s delivery, resulting in physical or mental harm to the infant. Birth injuries can range from minor injuries that heal on their own to severe injuries that can cause long-term complications or even death. In Washington, there are laws in place to protect infants and their families. The most common types of birth injuries include brain injuries, brachial plexus injuries, Erb’s palsy, shoulder dystocia, fractured bones, and lacerations. Brain injuries occur when the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen or experiences trauma during the delivery. Brachial plexus injuries occur when the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck in the birth canal and the nerves are stretched or torn. Erb’s palsy is damage to the brachial plexus, and can cause paralysis of the arm. Shoulder dystocia is when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal, and may result in oxygen deprivation or fractured clavicles. Lacerations are cuts caused by vacuum extraction or forceps during the delivery. If a newborn suffers an injury due to medical negligence or malpractice, the family can hold the responsible party accountable under Washington’s birth injury law. The family can pursue legal action in order to receive financial compensation for their medical expenses and other losses.
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