While the birth of an infant can be a magnificent moment in a family’s life, there is always a possibility that the event does not go according to plan. Birth asphyxia is a type of complication that can occur during the delivery of a baby that can cause the infant to suffer a birth injury. Often times, there are unpredictable and unavoidable complications that surge during a delivery, but there are other times when these complications or medical negligence’s could have been prevented. Birth asphyxia takes place when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Every minute that passes where the brain is not receiving oxygen, the tissues begin to get damaged. After five minutes with no oxygen, the infant will most likely suffer permanent brain damage, if not death. When medical professionals fail to properly care for, treat, or react to complications or other issues during a woman’s pregnancy, the infant may suffer birth asphyxia and result in severe repercussions.
Not only does the baby have to live with the effects of the medical negligence that was performed, but the parents, relatives, and other family members will have to see the baby suffer every day and financially pay for the baby’s medical needs that they will most likely need for the rest of their lives. West Palm Beach lawyers for birth asphyxia malpractice are well aware of the great obstacles that a family and the victim of a medical malpractice will have to face. While there are natural causes that can cause birth asphyxia, when medical negligence is the origin for it, the victim can consult with a medical malpractice lawyer that has had experience handling these cases.
Birth Asphyxia Origins
An infant lacking oxygen during birth can occur for a variety of reasons. One reason has been linked to medical negligence. Medical malpractice can come from the following situations:
- Physician failing to use proper technique during umbilical cord compression
- Mother being in prolonged labor
- Fetal distress signs not being perceived
Information on Birth Asphyxia
- 24 babies died in the state of Florida in the span of 16 years as a result of birth asphyxia
- An average of two to nine infants will become victims of birth asphyxia from 1,000 births
- Birth asphyxia will claim the lives of about 10 to 60% of infants who experience it
There Should Be No Complications During the First Breath!
The first breath of an infant, once he is delivered, is the one that commences their life. When they are not supplied oxygen, they will be unable to breathe, resulting in disastrous consequences. The rights of victims of medical malpractice and assistance to them is the main priority of the birth asphyxia malpractice attorneys at the West Palm Beach firm of Percy Martinez.