Was Your Child Born With A Spinal Cord Injury?
At The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny, we are dedicated to helping families whose children have suffered birth injuries, and if your child was born with an injury to the spinal cord, we want to hear from you. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined legal experience and have assisted clients in recovering well more than $100 million in the form of insurance settlements and jury verdicts. Do not hesitate to contact us for a free initial consultation with an attorney from our team, to discuss the circumstances of your child’s injury and determine whether you have grounds to sue the doctor for medical malpractice.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen At Birth
The process of childbirth places the baby at risk of suffering serious, life-changing injuries, and any type of complication requires extreme care and precaution on the part of the attending obstetrician. If one of the baby’s shoulders becomes stuck against the mother’s pubic bone — a condition referred to as “shoulder dystocia” — the doctor will most likely attempt to resolve this birthing emergency by pulling on the child’s head. The use of excessive force in pulling has the potential to injure the baby’s spinal cord, which is highly susceptible to damage.
Consequences Of A Spinal Cord Injury
Any type of injury to the spinal cord can result in serious long-term consequences, as it can disrupt the ability of the brain to monitor and control the function of various parts of the body. The most severe form of the brachial plexus injury known as Erb’s palsy occurs when the nerves extending from the lower cervical spine and upper thoracic spine are torn from their roots, leaving the child with paralysis in the affected hand and arm.
Other injuries in the cervical spine can result in quadriplegia, paralyzing all four limbs, or can even cause fetal death in cases where the nerves regulating the diaphragm and respiratory system are damaged and make it impossible for the baby to breathe. A spinal cord injury at birth may cause early demise when the child is only a few years old, as it can predispose the child to suffer pneumonia and reduced kidney function. Don’t let the doctor escape liability for causing your child to suffer. Let us represent you in legal action to recover fair financial compensation.
