Birth Injuries – Birth Defects

Every parent wants their baby to be born in a state of perfect health, but in reality birth defects occur in about eight per cent of all children born in the United States. In fact, birth defects are the leading cause of death in the first year of life. Although many birth defects have only minor effects, other can cause severe lifelong disabilities or even be fatal.

Birth defects are not necessarily caused by medical malpractice and can occur naturally, such as cleft palate or deformities of limbs, which in most cases can be successfully corrected with plastic surgery. There are also tests available to determine possible severe birth defects in babies born to mothers who may carry a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects – such as older mothers, mothers with a history of birth defects in the family or with hereditary illnesses. These tests offer the parents an option to terminate the pregnancy. However, with any medical testing, there is a possibility that mistakes can be made and may prove to be grounds for a medical malpractice suit.

Other birth defects are not congenital, and can occur due to the negligence of healthcare professionals involved in the pregnancy or birth. For example, prescribing unsuitable drugs to pregnant women or misdiagnosing pre-eclampsia, which would cause fetal distress. Misuse of forceps or delay in performing a caesarian section during delivery can also cause birth defects. Any of these medical errors could be a basis for a medical malpractice suit.