Erb's Palsy Lawyer
Phoenix, Glendale and Mesa, Arizona
Erb's Palsy is one of the most common types of Brachial Plexus birth injuries. It results from a physician employing excessive force to a baby's head during delivery when trying to remove a baby's shoulders from inside the mother. This can damage spinal nerves and result in permanent paralysis.
Sadly, like other birth injuries, Erb's Palsy could generally have been prevented if a physician used care when delivering an impacted shoulder and utilized judgment of a standard consistent with others in his profession.
Symptoms of Erb's Palsy
If a newborn has had his brachial plexus damaged, symptoms generally appear immediately and include:
- An unmoving arm that rests straight down at the infant's side
- An unmoving arm slightly turned with a bent wrist and straightened fingers
Other symptoms that become apparent in the weeks or months following childbirth can include:
- Limp arms
- Lack of sensation in the arm or hand
- Lack of motor skills in the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand, or elbow
How Erb's Palsy Occurs
If the delivery doctor fails to recognize obvious signs of labor complications, Erb's Palsy is more likely to be inflicted. For Brachial Plexus injuries, a potential delivery complication is when a high risk of shoulder dystocia exists, which is when the baby's anterior shoulders become lodged behind the mother's pubic bone. This only occurs in vaginal deliveries.
Rather than employing excessive force, the physician should use appropriate judgment and immediately perform a cesarean section as opposed to allowing the mother to continue vaginal birth. When appropriate judgment is not used, grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit may exist.
Careful doctors are able to catch complications associated with a high risk of shoulder dystocia before labor and anticipate the need for a Cesarean section. Factors that can increase chances of shoulder dystocia include:
- Babies that weigh over 8 pounds, 13 ounces
- Gestational diabetes
- Excessive second stage of labor
It is essential that the delivering physician carefully evaluate both the baby and mother prior to vaginal delivery to ensure there is minimal risk of complications.
If a physician exhibits negligence in his professional responsibility by failing to accurately perform and read a sonogram prior to delivery or applying excessive force and traction to a baby that has become lodged in the mother, you may be entitled to compensation for your baby's injury.
If your baby suffers from Erb's Palsy and you live in the Phoenix, Mesa, or Tucson, Arizona area, please contact the birth injury office of The Mayro Law Firm today or call (602) 604-8400 to schedule a consultation with Mr. Mayro.
Suite 700
Phoenix, AZ 85016
