When a baby is stuck in the birth canal or undergoes other forms of distress, medical tools may be necessary to advance the delivery. If the medical professional is negligent in their use of delivery tools such as vacuum extractors or forceps, the infant can become injured. If your child has been impacted by a birth injury due to medical negligence, you are likely considering your legal options. To learn more about taking legal action after a birth injury, continue reading. For assistance with your upcoming claim, contact our New York City medical malpractice attorney. We will help you hold this negligent medical professional accountable. Give our firm a call today.
What do doctors use forceps & vacuum extractors for?
Medical professionals who are assisting a complicated birth may turn to medical tools to help the mother complete the delivery. The following are the reasons medical professionals may have to use delivery assistance tools:
- A baby is in a breech or transverse position
- A large baby is unable to move through the birth canal effectively
- The baby shows signs of fetal distress and needs to be removed from the birth canal
- A baby is stuck in the birth canal for over three hours
- The mother is too exhausted to continue during labor
Medical staff may be required to use forceps if a baby is not positioned correctly in the birth canal. Forceps will be used to turn the infant or pull them through. When the forceps are not used properly or are placed on the baby鈥檚 head incorrectly, the baby can sustain injuries.
The most common injuries sustained due to the improper use of forceps include the following:
- Disfigurement
- Fetal stroke
- Erb鈥檚 Palsy
- Brain hemorrhages
- Injury to the mother
- Skull fracture
If the mother is too tired to continue delivering or if the baby is stuck in the birth canal, medical professionals may use a vacuum extractor. The most common injuries that can be attributed to a vacuum extractor are as follows:
- Skull fracture
- Brain hemorrhages
- Erb鈥檚 Palsy
- Injury to the mother
- Fetal stroke
If your child has been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional, you are likely looking to take legal action. To learn more about how our legal team will assist you in holding this medical professional accountable for their actions, contact our firm today.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED NEW YORK CITY FIRM
At Mark L. Bodner, P.C., we are committed to guiding clients through each step of the medical malpractice and personal injury claims process. Our firm understands how traumatic it can be when you become a victim of negligence. We are prepared to fight on your behalf to help you recover a maximum compensation award.聽Contact our firm today.