Birth asphyxia is a severe and life-threatening birth injury. It is caused by oxygen deprivation during or after a child is born. The consequences of extended oxygen deprivation can cause immediate and permanent health conditions in the newborn.
Complications caused by birth asphyxia may include:
- Brain damage
- Developmental slowness
- Disabled motor functions
- Infant death
It is a tragedy to consider that many cases of birth asphyxia could have been entirely avoided if a medical provider had acted responsibly. When doctors assisting with the birth of a child follow accepted medical standards and procedures, it should be reasonable to avoid the conditions that cause birth asphyxia. At the least, it should be possible to readily identify a complication that could cause birth asphyxia and act quickly to correct it.
Some of the most common causes of birth asphyxia are:
- Child is separated too early from uterus and placenta
- Mother is not given enough oxygen during birth
- Labor and delivery are prolonged or strenuous
- Mother or infant develops infection during pregnancy
- Umbilical cord strangles infant during birth
- Child is anemic in utero
All of these aforementioned conditions should be identifiable by adequately trained medical staff. Some conditions do not occur during labor or birth, and so it falls upon an obstetrician to detect the problem and take action. Failure to do so can lead to devastating birth injuries, including birth asphyxia.
Upholding the Rights of You & Your Newborn
When you go to a medical provider for assistance with your delivery, you put your faith in them to do the right thing and provide only the best medical care. Any sort of deviation and negligence is unacceptable, given whose wellbeing is on the line.
Habbas & Associates is here to help families seek justice for their newborns who have suffered from birth asphyxia. You and your child deserve maximized compensation from the negligent medical provider, yet they will probably not cooperate. We utilize our 200 years of combined legal experience to empower our clients and help them seek fair damages, justice, and peace of mind after a birth injury.
For a free consultation, fill out an online contact form now.
