Do You Believe That Your Child Developed Erb’s Palsy Due to the Malpractice of a Doctor or Obstetrician? Call 1-800-ATTORNEY For a Free Consultation.

Affecting approximately 2 out of every 1000 deliveries, Erb’s Palsy is a neurological condition caused by damage to the network of nerves serving the shoulder and arm on each side (usually injured during childbirth). These nerves are referred to as the “brachial plexus,” and thus this condition is also sometimes referred to as “brachial palsy.”

The body’s central nervous system is made of a series of interconnected nerves which branch out from the spinal cord. This is a delicate system—especially at birth—given a baby’s size and the fact that the nervous system is still forming. As a result, doctors need to take the utmost care not to disrupt these nerves during the birthing process.

Is My Doctor to Blame?

If your doctor failed to recognize certain risk factors that predisposed your child to such an injury, and as a result your child suffered a brachial plexus injury, that doctor and/or hospital could be held liable for their negligence through a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit. In fact, if your child developed Erb’s palsy shortly after birth, you owe it to your child to at least investigate your legal options. When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY, our lawyers will listen to the facts of your case and determine what options may be available to you for absolutely no cost. In fact, if you decide to hire us, we’ll take your case on contingency. This means that you NEVER pay anything out of pocket – we only get paid if we actually win compensation through a lawsuit or out-of-court settlement.

There are various factors indicate an increased risk of Erb’s palsy occurring during childbirth:

• Maternal diabetes can lead to a larger than normal baby, increasing the risk of Erb’s palsy.
• Lack of proper prenatal care can lead to the mother gaining excess weight, putting the child in danger.
• Applying pressure under the mother’s belly button during delivery to help move the baby along may lead to the baby lodging against the mother’s pubic bone, causing the condition.

Erb’s palsy is not a common injury, and medical professionals know what to look for in order to prevent it from happening. As such, most every case of Erb’s palsy can be attributed to medical mistakes made during the birthing process. If your doctor tries to tell you differently, we recommend getting a second (independent) opinion.

Here are a few negligent scenarios that may lead to the development of Erb’s palsy:

• Failure by a health professional to check and manage a mother’s diabetes during pregnancy.
• Failure to deliver babies who are way post their due date in a timely manner.
• Failure by a doctor to use forceps or vacuum extractors in a proper way.
• Failure to check the baby’s size using ultrasound before delivery.
• Failure to assign individuals who are sufficiently experienced to handle such births.
• Failure to obtain a mother’s obstetric history in order to find out if they had a difficult birth in the past.

What Should I Do Next?

Erb’s palsy can be treated if caught in a timely way. However, this depends on the extent of the injury to nerves. In some cases, nerves serving the shoulder and arm become severed, necessitating surgery and intense rehabilitation. Why should these costs be passed on to you and your child if the negligent actions of a doctor are to blame?

If your newborn developed Erb’s palsy or any other birth injury for that matter, you may be eligible to recover significant compensation. Please fill in our online contact form with your details and a short overview of your concerns, and send it to us right now. Alternatively, you can call us at 1-800-ATTORNEY day or night to discuss your case with our legal professionals. We look forward to helping you.