Birth Negligence Compensation

Childbirth is now safer than ever before, and advances in medical science have meant that most problems are now foreseeable long before they have an impact on the safety of a mother and her child. As a result, the vast majority of births in the UK go according to plan. Unfortunately, when something does go wrong, it may be devastating and result in lifelong repercussions for you or your child.

Seeing your child suffer is one of the hardest things a parent can go through, especially when they may be suffering due to the negligence of medical professionals. Bonding with your child and caring for them during the postnatal stage is an important part of both your lives, but if, as a mother, you have suffered from an injury, this may be much harder. If you feel that you or your child have been affected by negligence in childbirth, read on to find out more.

What is birth negligence

Birth negligence can take many forms. For example, mistakes made during procedures and monitoring failures can mean that an unborn child’s health deteriorates at a frightening speed. For example, one of the most common cerebral palsy causes is the failure to recognise a child’s vital signs becoming abnormal and subsequently failing to accelerate the birth.

When assisting with a delivery, medical staff may inadvertently use excessive force or fail to carry out a caesarean section when one is clearly needed. This may result in a child being born with serious neurological damage.

Some common forms of birth injury/disorders for a child include:

• Cerebral Palsy (you can find more information about cerebral palsy symptoms here)
• Shoulder Dystocia leading to Erb’s Palsy (more information about Erb’s palsy symptoms can be found here)
• Cutting and bruising from forceps
• Fractures and broken bones
• Hip dysplasia – this is not initially indicative of negligence, however, if left undiagnosed and untreated it may affect joint health and development.

Effects of birth negligence

As mentioned before, negligence in childbirth doesn’t just affect the child. As the mother, you might also have experienced a wide variety of complications that range in severity. It may be that you were left unattended during labour. Regardless of their impact, if you’ve suffered injury as the result of improper treatment and care during childbirth, you may be entitled to birth negligence compensation and private care.

Some common injuries mothers might suffer include:

• Errors in anaesthetising
• Uterine rupture
• Perineal tears
• Retained swabs
• Mistakes in caesarean procedures (e.g. damage to organs)

How we can help

We have a team of dedicated birth injury and medical negligence claim specialists that can help you work out whether you’ve been neglected during childbirth and whether you’re owed compensation as a result. Leading our team of specialists is Chris Moore, a senior solicitor who has particular expertise in cases of birth negligence and those affected by Cerebral Palsy. Chris is a member of the Law Society’s accredited panel of specialist clinical negligence solicitors.

How can Hudgell Solicitors help

We can analyse your medical records to work out what went wrong and what could have been done to prevent any injuries and conditions from occurring. We can then arrange for an independent medical examination to determine whether you or your child’s injuries could have been prevented had the proper care and attention been given.

If the treatment you received is found to be negligent, you are entitled to claim compensation for the suffering and hardship you experienced, and you may be eligible for further support depending on the nature of either your or your child’s condition. We understand that no amount of money can truly compensate this situation, but it can provide crucial financial support that helps you recoup any funds you may be owed, such as lost earnings or support costs. It can also help you access any additional care, therapy and special equipment you or your child may require.

How to make a claim

If you or your child have been affected adversely in any way during childbirth or in the immediate aftercare period, our expert solicitors are here to support you through this difficult time. The next step for you is to simply get in touch and discuss your case with us. We operate under a no win, no fee policy, meaning that getting in touch to discuss your situation won’t cost you a thing and could significantly improve your situation. Public Funding (sometimes known as Legal Aid) may also be available for child cases.

We will carry out a full assessment to see if an application for funding is appropriate. We’ll help alleviate your concerns and will do so in plain, straightforward English. Speak with one of our experts today by telephone or by using the contact form below – we’ll be happy to help you.