Chicago Birth Injury Lawyers

Cerebral Palsy - Dystocia - Infant Death - Oxygen Deficiency - Uterine Rupture

Most births are a time to celebrate. The mother spends months preparing for the arrival of the baby, hoping for an easy, safe, and healthy delivery.

That’s why it’s so traumatic when an infant dies or suffers injury during the process of childbirth. Losing a child--or seeing your child suffer an injury--is a pain like no other. As medical malpractice attorneys, we at the law firm of McGowan & Hull understand that a birth injury can devastate what should be a joyous event. As a team, we investigate the cause of every childbirth injury, be that error, negligence, or the flawed policies of the medical facility where you were treated.

Our Chicago birth injury lawyers will begin by securing and thoroughly reviewing your medical records, letting our board-certified medical experts determine if you have grounds for a viable malpractice claim. We represent clients in Cook County, Kane County, DeKalb County, and throughout Illinois with a combined 75 years of experience in all types of medical malpractice claims, including misdiagnosis and surgical errors.

• Childbirth Injuries and Infant Death
  McGowan & Hull has obtained substantial compensation for families in a broad range of birth injury and infant fatality claims:
• Hypoxia, Cerebral Palsy, and Brain Injuries
  Hypoxic injury occurs when the fetus does not get enough oxygen during pregnancy, labor, or birth. This happens when the umbilical cord is trapped or compressed, as it does when an infant is stuck in the birth canal. The hypoxia causes severe trauma to the fetus and the mother. If healthcare providers wait too long to perform a Caesarean section (C- section), the baby may suffer brain damage.
  The most common form of injury is cerebral palsy, which permanently affects the child's motor skills and ability to control muscles, requiring years of physical therapy and medical care. The brain injury can also cause diminished mental capacity in the baby, resulting in lifelong developmental disabilities.
• Shoulder Dystocia, Brachial Plexus and Erb's Palsy
  Some birth injuries occur during delivery if the doctor uses improper force or fails to foresee complications that would necessitate a C-section.
  Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's shoulder gets caught behind the pubic bone in the birth canal. Almost any skilled obstetrician can free the shoulder without hurting the infant. Too much force can tear or sever the nerves in the arm. A brachial plexus injury occurs when the baby's neck is stretched during delivery, damaging the network of nerves that control movement in the arms and hands.
  Either of these injuries can result in a serious form of nerve damage known as Erb's Palsy. The damage ranges from reduced motion in one arm or inability to control the shoulder and elbow movements to lifelong paralysis of the limb. With years of extensive physical therapy, the child may regain some or all use of the limb. The degree of recovery often depends on the severity of the birth injury.
• Preeclampsia
  Preeclampsia is a dangerous condition that sometimes develops during pregnancy. It can lead to severe injury or death for both the fetus and the mother. Failure to diagnose the symptoms (high blood pressure, protein in the urine) and treat the condition often leads to seizures in the mother, and a dangerously low birth weight, premature birth (and associated health issues), or even death for the baby.
  If you believe you have an obstetric malpractice claim, please contact the birth injury attorneys at McGowan & Hull today. Cerebral palsy and other injuries relating to prenatal care, labor, and delivery may not manifest for months or even years after the birth. If you or your baby were injured because of medical negligence, you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney who can document and follow the child's development in case legal action is required later.

For a free evaluation of your case, please call the birth injury attorneys of McGowan & Hull at (877) 457-2264.