A great deal of debate exists between the concepts of nature vs. nurture when it comes to the kind of adult a child will become. One event that can forever shape the adult a child will become is the birthing process. If the medical staff attending to the mother and newborn makes delivery mistakes, the course of that child’s life is altered from its first moments.
Whether in Illinois or elsewhere, numerous risk factors exist. They should alert an attending obstetrician that something could be wrong and that the baby is at risk of injury or death. Some of the instances during which injuries or death can occur are during a breech birth (baby is coming out feet first), infections (mother or fetus) or the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck.
Sometimes, a baby can get wedged in the birth canal. If that happens, the baby’s oxygen supply could be cut off or the doctor could injure the baby while pulling it through the birth canal. Forceps and suctioning devices can also cause serious injuries if not used correctly. In addition, a physician may also fail to order a Cesarean in a timely manner.
Any number of delivery mistakes can occur if an obstetrician fails to meet the established standards of care for his or her specialty. A newborn who survives a birth injury could require lifelong care, which could easily become a financial hardship on you and your family. You may be able to receive restitution from the obstetrician, other medical staff and perhaps even the hospital if negligence is proved to an Illinois court’s satisfaction. Any monies awarded could help you give your child the best care possible.