Birth Injury Lawyers Serving Rhode Island
Erb’s palsy is a type of brachial plexus palsy. It occurs when the delicate bundle of nerves near the neck is damaged during childbirth. This bundle of nerves is known as the brachial plexus. Damage to this network of nerves can cause numbness and paralysis in the baby’s arm, shoulder, hand, and fingers. Some cases of Erb’s palsy are caused by medical negligence. If you believe that your child’s birth injury was caused by medical malpractice, it is important to speak to an experienced Rhode Island Erb’s palsy attorney immediately. At Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd, our lawyers offer compassionate and aggressive legal representation through this difficult time.
What Causes Erb’s Palsy
In the United States, two out of every 1,000 babies are born with Erb’s palsy. This condition is most commonly caused by shoulder dystocia. Large babies are at a higher risk for shoulder dystocia. When delivering the baby, doctors may excessively pull on the baby. This can cause significant damage to the nerves in the neck and shoulder. When the nerves are torn or detached, the baby will suffer a brachial plexus injury.
A Medical Professional’s Duty of Care
A medical professional, such as an OBGYN, doctor or nurse, has a responsibility to uphold a standard of care. When they fail to uphold this standard, serious birth injuries can occur. During labor and delivery, doctors must use the utmost care and caution. They must monitor the baby closely for signs of distress and examine the mother for signs of complications.
If the baby’s shoulders become stuck inside of the birth canal, doctors must use safe medical maneuvers to deliver the baby.
If a doctor fails to provide safe medical care during the delivery process or if they fail to make a decision to timely perform a c-section, the baby may suffer serious harm.
If your doctor deviated from the acceptable standard of care during the labor and delivery, and your child suffered harm, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
A Providence Erb’s Palsy Lawyer Can Help
When your baby is born with Erb’s palsy, you may be frightened and overwhelmed. Watching your newborn baby suffer from paralysis is scary and devastating. Fortunately, most babies who suffer Erb’s palsy recover. If some improvement is noted within the first two weeks of delivery, your baby has an 80% chance of a complete recovery. But what if they don’t?
A Rhode Island birth injury attorney can help you during this difficult time. Birth injury cases are complex and require the help of an experienced attorney who understands medical malpractice injuries. Your baby may need to undergo months and even years of surgical interventions and therapies. In some cases, your child may live the remainder of his or her life with a permanent disability.
Children living with Erb’s palsy often have a noticeably smaller arm due to nerve damage. Nerves have an effect on growth. Because the nerves of the arm are damaged, the arm will not grow at the right pace. As the child gets older, his or her arm will become noticeably smaller. This can have a significant impact on your child’s future and well-being
An experienced Rhode Island birth injury lawyer can advocate on your behalf and fight to ensure that you have the money you need to provide for your child’s medical needs now – and in the future.
Contact Our Providence Birth Injury Lawyers Today
If your baby suffered from shoulder dystocia after birth and was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, you need a birth injury law firm on your side. Medical malpractice lawyers can help you review your legal options. At Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd., our Rhode Island birth injury lawyers believe in holding negligent doctors, nurses, and medical institutions accountable after a serious birth injury. We also want to help injured babies and their families get the money they need after a birth injury. That’s why we work tirelessly for our families, every step of the way. Medical malpractice cases are difficult. However, we can make the legal process easier for you and your family.
Call us today at (401) 273-8330 or fill out our confidential contact form for a free consultation and review of your case. Our Rhode Island personal injury law firm affords you a private and personalized attorney-client relationship form the very start. We offer legal advice you can count on during this scary time.
