Prenatal Negligence and Birth Injuries

When healthcare providers fail to deliver proper care during pregnancy and childbirth, the consequences can be devastating. Prenatal negligence and birth injuries often result from preventable errors that rob families of joy and replace it with a lifetime of challenges.

If your child suffered injuries during pregnancy or birth under suspicious circumstances, you may feel trapped, wondering what went wrong. Did your doctor overlook warning signs? Fail to run crucial tests? Make careless decisions that jeopardized your child’s safety? You deserve answers, support, and the resources necessary to care for your child’s needs.

At the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson, we understand the profound impact these injuries have on your family. We have a long track record of fighting tirelessly to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable. Call us today or contact us online for a free consultation with a dedicated birth injury team member.

What Is Prenatal Negligence?

Negligent prenatal care occurs when healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. This happens when doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals deviate from proper medical protocols that ensure the safety of both the mother and child.

Prenatal medical negligence takes many forms, from missed diagnoses to improper monitoring. Healthcare professionals undergo extensive training to recognize risk factors during pregnancy and must intervene when complications arise. When they fail to provide this level of care, serious injuries can result that might have been prevented with appropriate attention and treatment.

How Can Prenatal Negligence Result in Birth Injuries?

Prenatal neglect directly contributes to many birth injuries. Healthcare providers must monitor maternal conditions and respond appropriately to complications. When they miss signs of distress or fail to take timely action, the consequences can be severe and long-lasting.

For example, failing to detect signs of fetal distress during labor can lead to oxygen deprivation, potentially causing brain damage. Similarly, mismanaging maternal conditions like preeclampsia or infections can endanger both mother and baby, resulting in preventable harm.

A typical scenario involves medical teams overlooking critical warning signs or delaying necessary medical interventions, leading to complications that proper care would have prevented. When healthcare providers act negligently during these vital moments, families can pursue pregnancy negligence claims to seek justice.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

Many birth injuries stem from specific forms of medical negligence during pregnancy and delivery, including the following:

• Mismanagement of Maternal Conditions – Healthcare providers must properly monitor and treat conditions such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, which can affect fetal development and complicate delivery.
• Failure to Monitor Fetal Well-Being – Regular monitoring helps detect potential problems, allowing for timely intervention before permanent damage occurs.
• Delayed Cesarean Section – When complications arise during labor, delaying a necessary C-section can lead to oxygen deprivation and brain damage.
• Improper Use of Delivery Tools – Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors can cause physical trauma and neurological damage.
• Medication Errors – Administering incorrect dosages of labor-inducing drugs like Pitocin can cause contractions that are too strong, potentially restricting oxygen to the baby.
• Inadequate Prenatal Testing – Failing to conduct routine screenings for certain conditions can complicate pregnancy or delivery.

These preventable errors often result in the most common birth injuries, including the following:

• Cerebral Palsy – A neurological disorder affecting movement and muscle coordination, often caused by oxygen deprivation during birth
• Erb’s Palsy – Nerve damage that can cause weakness or paralysis in the arm or shoulder
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) – Brain damage from oxygen deprivation that can lead to developmental delays and lifelong disabilities
• Brachial Plexus Injuries – Damage to the nerves controlling arm and hand movements
• Skull Fractures – Often resulting from excessive force during delivery
• Facial Nerve Injuries – Can cause facial paralysis, affecting a child’s ability to control facial expressions

Who Is Responsible for Negligent Prenatal Care?

Responsibility for birth injuries may extend beyond just the delivering physician. Potentially liable parties include the following:

• Obstetricians and gynecologists
• Nurses and midwives
• Anesthesiologists
• Hospitals and medical facilities
• Laboratory technicians responsible for testing
• Pharmaceutical companies (in cases involving medication errors)

Determining liability requires a thorough investigation by an experienced birth injury attorney who understands the complex medical standards that apply to pregnancy and childbirth.

Long-Term Impact of Birth Injuries

Your child’s birth injury may require lifelong care and support. Many families face a future involving the following:

• Ongoing medical treatment and specialized therapies
• Surgeries and hospitalizations
• Assistive devices and home modifications
• Special education services
• Full-time caregiving requirements
• Emotional and psychological challenges

The financial burden can be overwhelming, often reaching millions of dollars over a lifetime. This reality makes pursuing appropriate compensation crucial for securing your child’s future care.

Financial Compensation You Can Pursue in a Birth Injury Claim

A successful birth injury lawsuit can help recover compensation for the following:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation costs, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Adaptive equipment and home modifications
• Special education services
• Lost wages for parents providing care
• Pain and suffering
• Diminished quality of life

The team at the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson has the legal skills and medical knowledge to accurately calculate your child’s lifetime needs and fight for maximum compensation.

Contact Our Compassionate Birth Injury Team for a Free and Confidential Consultation

When facing the aftermath of birth trauma, you need an attorney with the proper skill set and commitment. Kelley J. Johnson offers:

• A singular focus on medical negligence cases
• Years of experience with medical malpractice claims against healthcare providers
• Collaboration with a team that includes Registered Nurses
• Partnerships with medical experts in various specialty areas
• Compassionate, individualized representation
• No fees until your case is won

If your child suffered injuries during pregnancy or birth that you believe resulted from medical negligence, don’t wait to seek legal guidance. Indiana law limits the time you have to file a claim, so acting promptly can protect your rights.

The Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson offers free, confidential consultations to discuss your case and explore your legal options. Call us today or contact us online to speak with our birth injury team about your potential case and take the first step toward justice for your child.