Birth defects Law Pittsburgh, PA

There is a two year statute of limitations in Pennsylvania for filing medical malpractice claims. It is important to keep this in mind in regard to birth injuries. There is a difference between birth defects and birth injuries. An injury is something that occurs during the birth process, while a birth defect refers to impairment that is caused by something that happened before or during pregnancy. When a parent feels that an infant has suffered a birth injury, it is essential to have experienced legal assistance. The attorney will do a thorough investigation of all circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and birth. Medical records will be perused, as well as any and all tests results performed before and after birth.

One of the most serious conditions that may result from medical negligence is cerebral palsy, a result of trauma to the cerebellum. There may be impairment of the higher mental faculties as well as muscular impairment. Cerebral palsy and other types of birth injuries may also have other causes such as genetic conditions, RH incompatibility,drug or alcohol use during pregnancy, and infections suffered by the mother, among others.

Many birth injuries occur because of inattention on the part of medical staff during and immediately after delivery, such as: failure to monitor oxygen levels, exceptionally long labor, umbilical cord problems, possibility of a breech delivery, presentation of larger baby than expected, need for a Caesarian Section, abnormal skin color of the baby, an infant who must be resuscitated after birth. Special testing after birth such as an MRI or CT scan should alert parents that something may not be right.

There are other types of birth injuries, including, but not limited to: skull fractures, spinal cord injury, bleeding in the brain, swelling or bruises on the scalp, excess stress to the neck, resulting in Erb’s Palsy, forceps marks, shoulder dislocation, streptococcus infection, and stillbirth. Paraplegia and quadriplegia can result from birth injuries. Injuries may be caused during infancy by head trauma or infections such as meningitis or encephalitis.

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