A lawsuit against Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center charges that a doctor’s negligence during labor and delivery caused a baby to suffer permanent nervous system and brain damage resulting from a birth injury.

This birth injury case is one of more than 100 negligence and malpractice lawsuits that have been filed against Brookdale, according to a report in the New York Daily News. More than a dozen of the patients named in those lawsuits have died, records from the Brooklyn Supreme Court show.

Birth injuries may be caused by physician negligence

When an emergency situation arises during labor or delivery, action must be taken swiftly and correctly to deliver the baby safely and avoid a birth injury. Such emergencies include problems with the umbilical cord; hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain); reduced fetal heartrate; shoulder dystocia (when the baby’s shoulder is trapped behind the mother’s pelvic bone, making normal delivery impossible); or other problems. If the doctor fails to recognize the medical emergency and take action in time, the result may be a birth injury. Birth injuries can also result from incorrect action by the doctor. For example, a lawsuit may charge that a doctor applied too much force when trying to free a baby with shoulder dystocia, resulting in a bone fracture or damage to the brachial plexus nerves; incorrectly used vacuum extraction, causing a skull fracture; or failed to perform a C-section in a timely manner.

Parents may be eligible to file a birth injury lawsuit

For parents, finding out that their child will be permanently disabled due to a birth injury and will require lifelong care and medical treatments is emotionally devastating. Their heartbreak is compounded in cases where the injury could have been avoided if only the attending physician had followed proper procedures. In such cases, parents may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Although litigation will not undue the harm that was done to their child, it can bring financial compensation to help the parents provide the medical treatments and care their child will need.

Call Balkin & Eisbrouch for a free consultation

The birth injury attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch know how hard it is for families dealing with the pain of a birth injury caused by malpractice or negligence. Their goal is to get you the financial compensation you and your child deserve. If your child has suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice or negligence, call us for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case. There is no obligation, and absolutely no cost to you unless we obtain a settlement for you.