We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
A birth accident, which could reasonably have been foreseen by medical professionals or has been caused by their neglect or actions, can be the basis of a case for personal injury compensation.
In many instances, the crux of the matter of responsibility is whether a trained and experienced nurse, midwife or doctor should have been aware of the potential for a problem to develop which might result in death or disability for a baby when it is born.
One such situation could be a lack of, or reduced, foetal movement which can be an early sign of a foetus which is small for age or not growing, placental insufficiency, or a congenital malformation, including abnormalities of the central nervous system, skeleton or musculature.
It has been suggested that a sudden change in foetal movement can be a warning of impending foetal distress or death, indicating a need for immediate further medical investigation.
A mother's instinct is one of the best indications of the health of her unborn child and doctors should be prepared to listen and act on her concerns if she feels the regular pattern of movements – which start at about 18 weeks of pregnancy – have changed.
Research which was assembled for an obstetricians' report in 2011 found that women who were asked to monitor their foetal movements and then seek further investigations if they had not felt ten movements within two hours had a reduced incidence of stillbirths.
The same investigation showed that there was double the number of expected hospital attendances resulting in induced labour and three times the number of emergency caesarean births were carried out as a result of the mother's awareness of a reduction of foetal movement.
Prompt medical diagnosis and intervention can make a huge difference to the successful outcome of a pregnancy if any kind of problems are detected early enough and, unfortunately, the opposite is true that a delay can be fatal or result in a birth injury such as cerebral palsy.
Health professionals who fail to acknowledge or act on a mother's genuine concerns for her own safety, or that of her foetus, may become liable should harm result and they could then face a case of clinical negligence for causing suffering.
YouClaim solicitors for birth accident
Preventing a birth accident is a vital part of the work of the team involved in helping a mother to safely deliver her child, but if something goes wrong and a question of liability and/or negligence arises then YouClaim has the lawyers who can help you achieve redress.
Our experienced personal injury team has a reputation for sensitivity, and explaining everything in plain English, as well as maintaining the highest professional standards as monitored by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
If you or your family believe you have suffered a birth accident which could have been avoided, you can consult us in confidence via our free telephone service on 0800 10 757 95 or use our online claim form to send us basic information about the circumstances.
