The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the happiest days in a family’s life. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Approximately 4 million babies are born with a birth injury every year, according to the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC).
Parents may be afraid to tell anyone about their concerns out of fear that someone will accuse them of making up stories or exaggerating facts because they’re upset by what happened during childbirth. But parents need to speak up so that doctors and hospitals can investigate their claims thoroughly and make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Read what steps to take next.
Parents Should Gather Evidence
After a birth injury, you must gather as much evidence as possible. This will help ensure you have all the information you need when filing your insurance claim or injury lawsuit against the hospital or doctor who treated your child.
You’ll want to start by getting copies of all medical records relating to your case, so they’re available if you ever need them in court. You’ll also want to get copies of any other documents related to what happened during labor and delivery so that you know exactly what happened during this time.
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Keep Accurate Medical Records of Birth Injury
You will need to save accurate records of your child’s injuries and any other effects that have resulted from the injury. These records should include medical bills, therapy costs, and other expenses related to caring for your child after an injury.
You may also want to keep a journal or diary about how your child is doing emotionally and physically so that you can show this to potential lawyers later on in your case.
Parents Should Document Injuries and Other Effects
If you believe that your child has been injured during birth, there are several things you can do to ensure that his or her health needs are met. First and foremost, document the injuries and effects.
Documenting an injury and related effects might include:
- Taking pictures of your child’s bruises or stitches,
- Keeping track of his weight gain or loss
- Documenting any behavior changes
For example, if your baby has been having trouble sleeping since birth due to pain from injuries, keep track of how often this happens and how long the problem persists.
This is particularly important if your child suffers from chronic pain or other long-term effects of the birth injury. It’s also important to keep track of any changes or appetite that may be due to the birth injury.
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Contact Your Doctor
Parents should contact their doctor(s) immediately after any incident involving an injury of a newborn baby at birth. Doctors need to know about any injuries so they can treat them properly or refer patients to specialists for further treatment or evaluation.
Parents should also inform doctors about any issues with breastfeeding or formula feeding as well as potential long-term medical problems related to the birth injury.
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Talk With Other Parents Who’ve Been Through It
Talk with other parents who’ve been through it. If anyone you know has experienced what you’re going through right now, ask about their experience. Talking with other people who have been through similar situations can help you better understand how to cope after a birth injury.
Notice How the Hospital Reacts to Your Case
Parents should be aware that some hospitals may try to downplay claims and avoid paying out any compensation at all. Some will even attempt to pay out less than what is owed if they think they can get away with it.
It is important to consult with a birth injury lawyer as soon as possible if you feel your claim is being handled poorly by a hospital or doctor. If the doctor or hospital where your baby was born is part of a group practice, you may be able to sue that group practice as well as the individual doctor or hospital employee who was involved in giving birth to your child.
If this is the case, then you should contact a birth injury lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice cases so that they can help you decide whether or not it makes sense for you and your family to move forward with legal action against these entities.
Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer For Help at Any Time
Parents should not hesitate to contact an attorney if they suspect that their child’s injuries were caused by medical negligence during the birth process. An experienced birth injury attorney can evaluate the case and help parents file a claim to seek compensation for their child’s suffering.
It’s also important to follow up with appropriate medical treatment, as recommended by your physician. Children who suffer birth injuries need ongoing monitoring and care to address future complications that can arise. A birth injury attorney can help make sure this happens. If you or a loved one has been injured during childbirth, contact us today.
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