Sometimes, medical professionals must use medical tools to advance the delivery of an infant. However, if a medical professional is negligent with the delivery tools they use, such as forceps and vacuum extractors, then an infant may become injured. Read on to discover more about this type of injury and how a New York birth injury attorney, who is seasoned in forcep & vacuum extraction injuries, at Mark L. Bodner, P.C., can help you through your case.
By definition, what are forceps and vacuum extractors?
If you experienced a complicated birth, then the medical professional assisting your delivery may have had to opt for forceps and vacuum extractors.
For one, the medical professional may have used forceps if they needed to turn your infant or pull it through your birth canal. Put simply, this tool is needed if your infant is not positioned correctly in your birth canal.
Secondly, the medical professional may have used a vacuum extractor for similar reasoning, which is pulling your infant through your birth canal. More specifically, this tool is required if you grew too tired to continue your delivery or if your infant was stuck in your birth canal.
What happens if a medical professional incorrectly uses forceps and vacuum extractors?
To reiterate, birth injuries may occur when a medical professional acts negligently when using forceps and vacuum extractors during the delivery process. For example, an injury may occur if they place the forceps or vacuum extractor on your infant’s head incorrectly. More specific examples of birth injuries that may follow include the following:
- Erb’s Palsy.
- Cerebral palsy.
- Brain hemorrhages.
- Brain swellings.
- Fetal stroke.
- Fetal seizure.
- Skull fractures or bone distortions.
- Bruising, including subgaleal hematoma.
- Disfigurement.
- Injury to you, as the mother (i.e., urinary issues).
Do I have a case for my child’s forceps and vacuum extraction injury?
Yes, you have a medical malpractice case if your medical professional caused your infant to suffer a forceps and vacuum extraction injury.
You should also note that these medical tools should have only be used for the following reasons:
- Your infant was large for its gestational age and was unlikely to move through your birth canal effectively.
- Your infant was experiencing fetal distress and needed to be removed from your birth canal effectively.
- You grew exhausted during your labor and were unlikely to follow through effectively.
- Your infant was stuck in your birth canal for three hours or more.
- Your infant was in a breached or transverse position.
So, if your medical professional did not have any of the above reasons to use forceps or a vacuum extractor, then you may also sue. To fully determine your eligibility for a claim, contact a competent New York birth injury attorney today.