subject: Infant Suffers Erb's Palsy Injury Even Though Doctors Knew Prior To Birth That This Was A Big Baby [print this page] One of the more common types of birth injuries is an Erbs palsy injury which affects the infant's shoulder and arm. This may be a severe injury that in the most serious circumstances leave the infant with poor use of the arm even subsequent to surgery. In many circumstances the injury is avoidable. If this occurs as a result of a mistake by a doctor in the course of the delivery procedure the parents might be able to go after the doctor with a malpractice case for themselves and their baby.
As an example, consider a reported claim regarding a woman expecting her third child. The woman was either borderline for or in fact had gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain in the course of the pregnancy and had previously given birth two large babies. Around 4 months into the pregnancy the expectant mother's doctor recorded that the unborn child was larger than expected by the gestational age and three months later she was borderline on her glucose test for gestational diabetes. An ultrasound after that consultation put the babys weight in the 90th percentile. At her final prenatal visit the day before the doctors planned to induce her labor the doctor observed the fundal height (a measurement of the uterus used to assess fetal growth and development) at 43 centimeters. The woman was 40 weeks pregnant.
The next day the expectant mother reported to the hospital as scheduled. After her admission, a second physician took over her care. The hospital record described the expectant mother's prior borderline glucose test and that she was at high risk given previous large gestational age babies. This physician failed to, , test her sugar level or make any effort to determine the unborn child's weight prior to medically inducing her.
Approximately several hours subsequent to her admission to the hospital the womans membranes spontaneously ruptured. When this happened a substantial quantity of meconium was observed. This is frequently a sign that the unborn child is in trouble and usually necessitates an emergency C-section.
Around 40 minutes later the doctor completed a vaginal examination. The physician documented that the expectant mother was four centimeters dilated. The physician positioned a fetal scalp electrode which highlighted early decelerations. Even though it was not documented in the publication of the lawsuit, certain types of decelerations may be an indication of fetal distress. A little more than an hour later the woman was fully dilated. The nurses notes mentioned the occurrence of shoulder dystocia, the delivery of the child's head, and the application of suprapubic pressure to help delivery.
The infant weighed 10 pounds 10 ounces at birth. The baby had a head circumference in the ninetieth percentile and she was diagnosed with Erbs palsy. When she grew her arm atrophied from her incapacity to use it. She has developmental delays and she has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The doctors failed to monitor the mother for gestational diabetes but had ample knowledge that the child was large preceding delivery. Still, they failed to plan on a Caesarean and failed to attempt a common procedure prior to using traction to the babys head. These steps might have avoided the child's injury.
The parents initiated a lawsuit against the doctors. The law firm that represented the family reported that the matter settled for $900,000.
by: Joseph Hernandez
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