What are the common causes of birth injury?

Birth injuries can occur during labor or delivery and are a common cause of medical malpractice and personal injury cases in Washington. Birth injuries are typically caused by a variety of factors, including medical negligence, a baby being born prematurely, a difficult labor, using excessive force during delivery, or not recognizing signs of fetal distress. Medical negligence is an important factor in many birth injuries. It includes any act, or failure to act, on the part of a healthcare professional, including a doctor, nurse, or midwife, which deviates from accepted medical practice and causes harm to a patient. Some common examples of negligent medical care include failure to diagnose a condition, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to provide proper treatment. Premature birth can also increase the risk of birth injuries. Babies that are born too soon may not have had enough time to develop. This can cause weakness in the baby’s muscles or bones, leading to a birth injury or developmental delays. Difficult labor can also lead to a baby being injured during delivery. If a baby is too large for the mother’s birth canal or is in an abnormal position during delivery, the doctor may attempt to force the baby out. This can result in physical harm to the baby. Lastly, not recognizing signs of fetal distress can lead to a birth injury. Signs of fetal distress include an abnormal fetal heart rate or a decrease in the baby’s oxygen level. If a healthcare provider fails to recognize these signs, they may not take steps to alleviate the distress, which can result in a birth injury. Birth injuries can have a long-lasting impact on both the baby and the family. If you or your loved one has experienced a birth injury, contact a Washington attorney experienced with birth injury law to get the compensation you deserve.

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