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Having a baby is be a time of joy and happiness for most families, but occasionally during pregnancy or childbirth, things can go wrong for mothers and babies with life-changing results.
Most medical negligence claims following birth are made on behalf of the child, often because the child has suffered brain damage. We are also able to assist in cases where the child is unharmed, but the mother has suffered physical and/or psychological damage during the birth.
Our team is sensitive to how difficult it can be to come to terms with problems which have arisen during pregnancy and birth. We put the client first, keeping you informed at every stage, and working with you to ensure that, where medical negligence is the reason for injury, you get the compensation you need to help you adjust to your new circumstances.
Below we have outlined some types of cases which occur quite frequently in this area of medical negligence practice. However, we are happy to discuss your case even if it is of a very different nature. Call us on 01924 882000 or email clinical.negligence@switalskis.com to arrange your consultation.
Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive condition the symptoms of which can include impairment or loss of movement, sensory abnormalities, and vision, hearing or speech problems. People with Cerebral Palsy may also suffer from learning difficulties, epilepsy or behavioural problems. Cerebral Palsy affects between one and four in every 1000 children born.
Cerebral Palsy can be caused by brain injury, infection in the womb, or other factors during foetal development. However, one cause of this condition, and the reason for many claims, is lack of oxygen to the brain (known as 'hypoxia') around the time of birth.
During pregnancy complications may not be recognised or acted upon: conditions like gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, or infections require additional planning for the birth and care of the newborn. There may be a failure to recognise and/or act on signs of foetal distress, leading to delays in assisted delivery of the baby by means of forceps, ventouse or caesarian section. There may also be problems caused during assisted delivery, if equipment is used incorrectly. Inadequate or negligent care of the newborn may mean that illness which may cause hypoxia is missed - for example, infection or low blood sugar.
We work with expert independent obstetricians, paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, neonatologists and midwives and other independent specialists. The medical experts we work with produce reports which help us to build up a picture of how the brain injury occurred.
In order to prove medical negligence, it is necessary to to exclude all possible causes for the child's brain damage other than negligent medical care. It is a complex and meticulous process, and our specialist solicitors will explain every step of the way what is happening and what might happen next.
This is a condition where the baby's head is delivered, but the shoulders then get stuck. An increasing number of medical negligence cases are being brought as a result of shoulder dystocia, which can lead to oxygen deprivation if delivery is delayed. However the manoevres used to deliver the baby can also cause injury. Doctors and midwives must balance the risks in cases of this nature.
Caesarian sections are often performed as emergency procedures, late in labour and there can be a number of complications. Our medical negligence team can assist if you have undergone a caesarian section and have suffered as a result of what you believe to be negligent treatment.
In many cases, caesarians can be performed too late, leading to difficulties delivering the baby's head if it is moving down the birth canal. Mothers undergoing the procedure may also suffer from haemorrhage or damage to the bladder.
Injuries sustained by the mother during childbirth can be extremely upsetting. We are experienced in working with mothers who have gone through a difficult and distressing birth. A number of women who have instructed our medical negligence team following childbirth have suffered damage to the perineum and vagina.
They may suffer sexual dysfunction, or bladder control, conditions which can cause psychological damage in addition to the physical injury which is the underlying cause.
Mothers may also sustain tears to the external anal sphincter muscle during childbirth. This can lead to loss of bowel control.
Serious tears and damage to these areas should be identified as part of a careful examination following the birth. Where proper care has not been taken to identify and treat these, we may be able to assist mothers who have suffered as a result to claim compensation.
Our team is experienced in dealing with cases arising from mistakes in screening for foetal abnormalities during pregnancy. This is an area in which the number of cases is increasing as mothers become more aware of their rights. Appropriate and adequate counselling must take place before screening is carried out. In cases where this has not happened, the mother may be able to make a claim for medical negligence.
Making a complaint about Medical Negligence
How we can help:
Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Claims against other Solicitors
clinical.negligence@
switalskis.com