We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
The potential for shoulder dystocia is taken very seriously by medical professionals because of the danger of an injury occurring, such as Erb's palsy, cerebral palsy or athetoid dystonia in birth.
When a baby's shoulders become stuck behind the mother's pubic bone, the baby can suffer brain damage, disability or death if it is not helped from the birth canal as quickly as possible.
Certain procedures have been developed for doctors and midwives to use in such circumstances but if these are not attempted, or used incorrectly, so that the baby can emerge unharmed, permanent birth injuries may result.
Where brain damage occurs because of lack of oxygen to the baby during birth, cerebral palsy may result. This may be apparent as spastic, where there is severe stiffening of different muscles, athetoid, an inability to control muscles, or ataxic, leading to balance and co-ordination difficulties.
Athetoid dystonia is incurable but medication may help to reduce the severity of the spasms and some victims can benefit from treatments including physiotherapy.
Mothers should be made aware of the risks attached to a delivery resulting in shoulder dystocia and advised on possible preventative measures. Obstetricians are trained to recognise warning signs so that a Caesarean section may be considered instead of a natural birth.
Maternal diabetes and obesity are two of the factors which should trigger an alert to medical staff also if the mother has a particularly small pelvis or is short. If she previously has delivered a large baby or had a child born with shoulder dystocia, these would be other causes of concern.
Late and large foetuses are also likely to be involved in potentially difficult births.
Not all birth injuries can be prevented by medical intervention but if a baby, or mother, has been harmed by a foreseeable complication which results in disability or suffering, there may be a case for compensation being due to the family.
Compensation for athetoid dystonia at birth
A permanent palsy condition such as athetoid dystonia at birth will have long-term effects on both the baby and parents in terms of ability to cope with everyday tasks and if the condition has been caused by the neglect or action of medical professionals, which could have been avoided, then a case for personal injury compensation may be appropriate.
The expert birth accident lawyers at YouClaim have many years' experience in helping families to achieve suitable recompense for their pain, suffering and loss of earnings and will offer sympathetic, as well as professional, attention.
Supervision by the Solicitors Regulatory Agency offers peace of mind YouClaim claimants always receive 100% of all compensation won.
Don't hesitate to make an initial inquiry if you or someone you love has suffered athetoid dystonia in birth, call our helpful legal team today on 0800 10 757 95 or contact us online and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
