Birth Defects vs. Birth Injuries
While a baby is developing, a number of different things can go wrong. Problems with DNA, such as duplicated chromosomes, can lead to congenital birth defects that will affect a baby for the rest of his or her life. On the other hand, there are also many things that can go awry during the birth process and cause permanent disabilities.
You may not realize that birth defects and birth injuries are not synonymous. Birth defects are typically caused by genetic problems and affect about 1 in every 33 babies born in the U.S. each year. These can be either hereditary, fetal development problems, or issues that arise during the combination process of the parents’ DNA. Thus, these are almost always out of the control of doctors and patients. Examples of birth defects include:
- Down syndrome
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Cleft palate
- Spina bifida
- Hypospadias
Common Birth Injuries
Contrastingly, birth injuries are generally caused by a physician’s or medical staff’s negligence in proper care of your baby. Misuse of tools such as vacuums or forceps can damage your precious child. Additionally, improper care in handling issues such as shoulder dystocia can leave your baby with permanent injuries. Some instances of birth injuries include:
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Abducens nerve injuries
- Cephalohematomas
- Fractured bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Erb’s palsy
- Cerebral palsy
When a baby suffers from a birth injury, it could have been a completely preventable incident that was caused only by a doctor or medical staff’s negligence. If you or someone you know has had a baby who suffered a birth injury, you should speak to an attorney about whether or not you are entitled to financial compensation.
Contact Us
For more information on taking legal action against negligent healthcare providers, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.