There is nothing quite like the terrifying feeling that comes over a parent after learning that a doctor made a mistake during the birthing process. Your child has injuries and will face various levels of trauma for their future. You are facing trauma, and so will the rest of your family. Preventing Birth Injuries.
As a Washington, D.C. birth injury lawyer, we are fully aware of the impact traumatic events like this can have. In May, which is National Trauma Awareness Month, there is a real benefit to taking a closer look at how such traumatic events can be avoided. At the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates, we encourage you to take steps to protect yourself and your family. When you need a birth trauma attorney in D.C., call us.
What Is National Trauma Awareness Month – and Why It Matters in the Delivery Room?
May is National Trauma Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness not just to trauma but also how every person can contribute to reducing trauma in their day-to-day lives. This year’s theme is “Model Safety Every Day: For a Stronger Tomorrow.” The premise is simple. What you do at home, such as buckling up in the car or reporting work hazards to your employer, can help reduce the traumatic impact on others. That includes taking steps to protect yourself from trauma as well.
Consider how this might apply to preventable trauma in the delivery room. When every person takes steps to minimize the risk of trauma during pregnancy and then in childbirth, the risk of injuries to the mother, father, or child is much lower.
Critical moments during childbirth matter the most. For example, if a doctor delivering a child is distracted even for a moment, a catastrophic injury can occur. In Washington, D.C. hospitals and birthing centers, facilities are responsible if they do not have enough staff on board to minimize risk to patients.
Common Preventable Birth Injuries in D.C. Medical Facilities
As a Washington, D.C. birth injury lawyer, we have worked with victims in a wide range of high-risk situations to find solutions. Some of the most common types of preventable birth injury in Washington, D.C., include the following:
- Oxygen deprivation (hypoxia): Oversight and negligence can lead to brain damage. Oxygen deprivation can occur if professionals fail to act soon enough or if monitoring equipment fails because it was not maintained.
- Brachial plexus injuries (Erb’s palsy): Mistakes in the birthing process can lead to the onset of conditions like this, when damage to the nerves in the shoulder and neck causes damage and limitations to movement. This impacts a child for the rest of their life.
- Cerebral palsy linked to delayed C-sections or poor fetal monitoring can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, and other nerves throughout the body, creating long-term injury and loss of quality of life, communication, and mobility.
- Injuries caused by excessive force or improper use of delivery tools, often due to a provider rushing or having a lack of experience.
- Failure to respond to fetal distress in time, especially due to nursing staff shortage or distraction, can create long-term implications for children.
Where Prevention Fails: Medical Negligence and Birth Injury Lawsuits in D.C.
From cerebral palsy birth injury in D.C. to traumatic brain damage due to poor monitoring of patients in birthing facilities, the risks of long-term trauma are very high when doctors, hospitals, nurses, and others fail to take steps to minimize risk. Preventable trauma nearly always stems from medical errors, miscommunication, or failure to follow standard care protocol.
There are many reasons why this can happen. For example, a doctor may fail to leave an important message about a patient’s care needs because they rushed to attend to another patient’s needs. A hospital may have a nursing shortage that leads to a lack of monitoring patient care closely enough. The key to remember here is that none of these factors make the outcome better – if they had prevented the errors in some way, the child would not have suffered trauma.
The role of OBs, nurses, and hospital systems in preventing risks to patients is very obvious, but it is not always understood by the patients they serve. If something goes wrong and a child suffers trauma, you have legal rights, and you should know how to use them.
How D.C. Families Can Advocate for Their Children?
As a parent, finding a way to advocate for a child after traumatic events is not simplistic, as there are often a lot of questions that you have to find answers to in order to hold anyone accountable. Consider these strategies to support your effort in minimizing traumatic outcomes:
- Ask questions. If your child is struggling physically or mentally, has unexplained injuries, or has any other unexplained health condition, ask questions.
- Request a second opinion from another hospital system or birthing center.
- Get a copy of the child’s medical records to bring them to a medical malpractice attorney with a medical background or the resources to seek out experienced experts.
- If something feels “off” or if you are not receiving all of the information, act. There is never any harm in reaching out to an attorney to learn what they can do to help you get answers.
- Contact a birth injury attorney for a case review. You may not have to file a D.C. hospital birth injury lawsuit, but not knowing what happened to your child can be devastating and unfair to both you and them. Turn to an attorney for clarity.
Contact the Washington, D.C. Birth Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates
As both a physician and a medical malpractice birth injury lawyer, Dr. Wilson knows how to help victims get answers. Call our Washington, D.C. birth injury lawyer today at 202-223-4488 or contact us online for a free consultation. The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates is located in Washington, D.C. and serves clients in the surrounding areas, including Northern Virginia and Maryland.
