Vasectomy Nerve Damage
Having found out that one of your children was left with a disorder that could have been prevented is a nightmare for most parents. Many of us trust that our doctors will ensure the complete safety of our newborns and their mothers.
Most doctors perform their service to the highest degree, but some doctors have remained negligent in terms of caring for their patients throughout the delivery process. When a doctor fails to notice the signs of a breech delivery (feet first) then he or she raises the risk of leaving the newborn with brachial palsy. Also, if the doctor fails to provide a dietary plan to a mother that is dangerously obese, the risk of having a child with this disorder increases.
Brachial palsy is nerve damage to the shoulders that results in the loss of movement or weakness (depending on the severity) to the arm. This occurs most frequently in newborns due to their sensitive nature. The collection of nerves in the shoulder is referred to as the brachial plexus.
Fortunately, most cases are cleared up within the first 6 months. And although it is a rare disorder, some studies have shown it to be a permanent disability as high as in 25% of cases. This is normally dependent on the hospital.
The most common causes of brachial palsy are:
- Improper preventative patient care: Doctors have about 8 months to determine the best case scenario for the delivery and how it can be achieved. They should be looking at the size of the baby and make sure that it is not too big to exit the birth canal. Then, of course, they must also look to make sure the mother does not have a below average size birth canal.
- Improper direction of the baby: If the mother has a breech delivery, then there is a chance that the doctor could have prevented the direction the baby would exit with either certain treatments or with an alternative delivery. Babies who come out feet first leave their arms up in the birth canal. This applies a lot of pressure to the nerves of the shoulder and can leave the baby with brachial palsy.
- Excessive force in the delivery: Some nurses or doctors will actually pull on the arms of the baby when it is coming out head first to make the delivery go by faster. This also can result in brachial palsy.
For more information on brachial palsy and to get legal advice, contact the Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of William Palmer & Associates, P.C.
Joseph Devine