Common Causes of Infant Skull Fractures Due to Medical Negligence 

 Posted on December 28, 2021 in Birth Injury

A child’s birth can be an intense and frightening experience, even when things go well. New parents experience so many unknowns, and in retrospect, the entire process can seem like a blur. Yet it is crucially important to be alert and pay close attention during your child’s birth because sometimes things do not go as planned. 

Infants can sustain injuries during childbirth, and some of these injuries are unavoidable. Other times, however, they happen as a consequence of negligence on the part of a medical provider. Skull fractures are an all-too-common injury that infants may sustain because of a medical mistake or oversight. If your infant was seriously hurt or killed during childbirth, contact an experienced Illinois birth injury attorney to learn about your legal options. 

Common Causes of Skull Fractures During Childbirth

Skull fractures can happen for many reasons; no matter the cause, they can pose serious risks to an infant’s life. Some common reasons an infant’s skull might be fractured during childbirth include: 

• Improper use of birth-assistant instruments - When a mother has difficult or prolonged labor, a doctor may decide to use birth-assisting instruments such as forceps and vacuum extractors. While these are sometimes helpful, they can cause severe injury if they are used incorrectly. 

• Cephalopelvic disproportion - For some women, the process of delivering a baby vaginally is hampered by the fact that their pelvis is simply not wide enough to allow for safe childbirth. Doctors must be alert and monitor both mother and infant to catch cephalopelvic disproportion before it becomes a hazard. Failure to diagnose this condition can lead to infant injury in the birth canal. 

• Rough handling - Even after an infant is born, rough handling by medical staff can cause damage to an infant’s fragile skull. Doctors and nurses who are in a hurry or are being reckless can drop infants, resulting in serious skull fractures and other brain injuries. 

Medical staff owe a mother and her infant a duty of care. When this duty is breached, and the infant is injured, the staff may be liable for damages. If you are in this situation, know you are not alone. A birth injury attorney may be able to help. 

Call a Cook County Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If your child was injured during birth and you believe a negligent healthcare provider is to blame, schedule a free consultation with a Chicago, IL birth injuries attorney. At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., we take each case seriously and will give your child’s injury the attention it deserves. Call us today at 312-462-4200 to schedule a meeting with one of our talented and experienced attorneys. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1525&ChapterID=35 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-622