There are so many things going on when you are trying to birth a child into this big beautiful world. You trust that your care-providers will guide support, and take care of you during the birthing process. We look forward to having healthy babies, without any complications. Unfortunately, birth injuries do happen.
Dr. Brad Bradshaw is a licensed physician, surgeon, and lawyer who has has highly specialized training in preventable injuries. He currently has practices in several locations throughout the US, and is expanding his presence to Vancouver. Through his legal practices, Dr. Bradshaw helps ensure families have the finances to pay for the lifetime care of a child injured during birth.
At a recent lunch, I was able to ask Dr. Bradshaw a couple of questions about Birth Injury.
What is birth injury?
Birth injury is damage sustained during the birthing process, usually occurring during transit through the birth canal. There are different forms of birth injury, which include, but are not limited to: Cerebral Palsy, Forcep Marks, Spinal Injuries and Brachial Plexopathy. Some birth injuries may even lead to intellectual and/or physical disabilities. And in the worst cases, birth injury can be fatal.
What is the most common birth injury?
Cerebral palsy, which is a life altering condition that frequently requires ongoing medical care. Cerebral palsy is actually a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions including movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. There are several different types of cerebral palsy, including spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed.
How does birth injury occur?
Many birth injuries are preventable, caused by inexperience, negligence or mistakes/errors in the medical healthcare environment. We often forget that Doctors are human, and sometimes make mistakes. And these mistakes have life-long effects on the child and/or mother and their families.
What do you do if you think you/baby suffered birth injury?
Contact a lawyer immediately to share your experience and discuss your options. Document everything. And call us at 604-337-1616.
Why don’t we hear more about birth injuries?
The unwillingness of people to question their doctors, and healthcare providers to admit they have made mistakes.
Are doctors and hospitals protected?
Yes, doctors and hospitals have medical malpractice insurance. This protects them when they make a mistake, and more importantly, it protects those who they have hurt.
Raising public awareness about birth injury is important so that those affected by it can receive the proper care and help they deserve. And that those who caused the injury can be held accountable for their actions. To learn more about birth injuries contact Dr. Bradshaw and his team by visiting www.vancouverbirthinjurylawyers.
