Obstetrics negligence compensation claims

Our medical negligence team has successfully concluded many obstetrics claims, including cerebral palsy claims.

During birth there can be injury to either the mother, the baby or both. Some of these birth injuries are unavoidable, however each year there are a number of cases where injuries are caused by
medical negligence.  Some of the types of birth injury that can occur include:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Erb's Palsy (Brachial Plexus Injury / Shoulder Dystocia)
• Injuries to the mother
• Brain injuries
• Fractured/broken bones

One of the most common injuries caused through medical negligence is cerebral palsy. Our medical negligence team regularly deal with these types of claims and have the expertise to ensure that you receive the highest award possible to provide for rehabilitation, care, support, therapies and education. We act on a 'no win, no fee' basis.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy effects approx. 1 in every 10,000 babies born in the UK. It is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, long lasting motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement.

There are many types and subtypes of cerebral palsy and none of them have a known cure. Usually, medical intervention is limited to the treatment and prevention of complications arising from Cerebral palsy's effects.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that can be caused if a baby being starved of oxygen during birth. This causes damage to the brain and may result in the baby having physical or intellectual disabilities. Research is still ongoing but it is estimatedesetimated that as many as 20% of cerebral palsy cases are as a result of mismanagement of the birth process and the failure to act quickly if there are any signs of trouble.

Many babies who have been effected by birth injuries will require help and assistance for many years - sometimes even for the rest of their life. Many families don't have the resources to provide the very best care they would want for their baby and a cerebral palsy legal claim can provide the funding for future treatment, rehabilitation and care.

For further information please contact our specialist cerebral palsy solicitors on
freephone 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or complete our short enquiry form.

Erb's Palsy

Shoulder dystocia (stuck shoulders) can be identified during labour and steps should be taken to avoid injury during delivery. Failure to correctly identify this could mean there has been medical negligence. It occurs when the head has been delivered but the shoulders are too large and are impacted on the mother’s pelvis.

When the baby is delivered, if it is larger than average, there can be an injury to the neck which results in damage to the nerves (brachial plexus nerves) which control the muscles in the shoulder, arm or hand, and the nerves are paralysed. This injury may result from shoulder dystocia, causing the nerves to stretch or tear, although this is not always the case.

Symptoms for the baby may be a limp or paralysed arm, lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist. There may also be a lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand.

Injuries to the mother

The main birth injuries that can affect the mother include vaginal tears, fissures, incorrect suturing (sewing) following an episiotomy or a Caesarean, failure to manage pre-eclampsia and infections. Read more about birth injuries to the mother here.

Other Types of Birth Injury Claims

Although Cerebral Palsy is the most common form of Birth Injury Claims, there are many other types of birth injury, including varying degrees of damage to the brain and scarring or nerve damage caused by tools used during assisted deliveries (e.g. forceps).  Negligence during the birth of a baby may even result in stillbirth. We have been successful in birth injury claims involving:

• Umbilical cord problems
• Ruptured placentas
• Infant death