Medical professionals sometimes need to intervene during labor and delivery due to complications. A Cesarean section can save a mother’s life and prevent a child from developing permanent brain injury, for example.
There are other interventions that can be helpful in some cases but can cause serious damage in other situations. Attempts to physically assist with a live vaginal birth can potentially cause physical trauma to both the mother and her child.
Forceps and vacuum extraction are risky
Delays in the labor and delivery process increase the risk of oxygen deprivation and other complications. However, unnecessary interventions can potentially cause serious physical trauma.
Doctors can use forceps or specialized vacuum devices to assist with vaginal delivery when the birthing process does not progress as expected. Both forceps and vacuums can cause serious physical injuries. They are both capable of causing tearing injuries to mothers, which can result in significant blood loss, dangerous infections and even nerve damage.
Assisted birth involving forceps or vacuum devices can cause physical trauma to the neck, back and shoulders of a child if they are pulled in an aggressive manner. Forceps can also cause facial trauma, including devastating injuries to the baby’s eyes. A host of other complications are also possible. They can trigger increased medical costs, lost wages and other financial losses.
When medical professionals perform unnecessary birth interventions or make major mistakes when administering interventions, expectant mothers and their babies can suffer devastating birth injuries. Care providers and employers, such as hospitals, may be liable for the economic impact malpractice has on affected families. Reviewing medical records with an attorney can help those affected by a preventable birth injury determine if they have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.