Chicago, IL Personal Injury Law Firm Represents Families of Babies Who Sustain Birth Injuries

Illinois Injury Lawyers Advocate for Victims of Birth Injury

Although medical errors are unacceptable, they occur every day. One of the major causes of birth injuries in Illinois and elsewhere is when doctors, nurses, or other health care professionals fail to act in an appropriate manner, causing a baby to be harmed during birth. Some of these preventable errors include:

• Failure to detect and properly treat fetal distress
• Improper use of birth-assisting tools, such as a vacuum or forceps
• Failure to schedule and perform an emergency cesarean section (C-section)
• Failure to monitor and control oxygen intake
• Failure to detect placenta previa or placental abruption
• Abnormal or excessive traction during delivery
  Birth injuries often result in severe long-term consequences for injured babies as well as their families.

Liability for Birth Injuries

A birth injury claim is not limited to the negligent conduct of doctors and nurses, but also laboratory technicians, anesthesiologists, certified nurse assistants (CNAs), as well as health care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and other individuals and entities that provide health care services.

When a hospital employee’s negligent conduct injures a patient, the hospital itself may be held vicariously liable under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. Under this doctrine, an employer may be held liable for the negligent acts of its employee, as long as the employee was acting in the course and scope of his employment when the injury occurred.

Protection against Birth Injuries

The best protection against birth injuries is being informed. To help ensure that they receive the care they need, women should consider having a partner, friend, or member of their family present at all times during the birthing experience to gather and relay information and to help them make informed decisions during what can sometimes be a stressful and confusing process.

Contact a Chicago, IL Personal Injury Law Firm Today

Did your family suffer a severe birth injury due to medical negligence? Contact the Chicago, IL attorneys at Kelly Law Offices, LLC online or call 1-800-859-8800 to schedule your initial consultation with a competent attorney today.