California Birth Injury Attorney
Brain injuries as a result of medical malpractice can affect patients of all ages. They are the result of a lack of oxygen to the brain during childbirth or a medical procedure. Brain injuries are not simply to diagnose and patients will rarely fully recover, even with proper treatment. Brain injuries can have life altering consequences for the victim and their families who face a lifetime of medical treatment and care.
Dr. Fagel’s impressive track record as one of the most successful medical malpractice attorneys in the country and first hand medical knowledge make him the right choice to represent families with a loved one with brain injuries as a consequence of medical neglect or malpractice. Our reputation for tireless advocacy and history of successful litigation helps us obtain the maximum recoveries, awards and settlements in complex birth injury cases for our clients.
If you and your family have wrongfully suffered, we encourage you to contact our legal team as soon as possible so that we can take the necessary steps to holding liable parties responsible for their part in causing the injury.
Facts About Birth Injuries
There are two main types of birth injuries that can occur during the birth/delivery process; injuries from a lack of oxygen to the brain and injuries from trauma. Lack of oxygen to the brain, known as hypoxia or asphyxia, can cause life-long disability, depending on the area of the brain affected and degree and duration of oxygen deprivation. The process of birth often causes a small reduction in oxygen supply to the brain and many babies are born with some evidence of asphyxia at birth, which is called birth depression. However, because of the reserve supply of oxygen and blood that is provided to the baby in the uterus through the placenta, most babies who are born with some depression at birth or hypoxia can be quickly and easily treated with some stimulation after birth and such babies rarely, if ever, suffer any significant injury to their brain.
There are several conditions which can cause more significant hypoxia or asphyxia at birth, and these can lead to more significant birth injuries. These include:
- Compression of the umbilical cord during labor and/or delivery
- Prolapse of the umbilical cord during delivery
- Separation of the placenta before delivery of the baby
- Rupture of the uterus
All of these conditions can present an obstetrical emergency which can result in requiring that the the baby be delivered quickly, usually by an emergency cesarean section. While most hospitals can perform a cesarean section with 30 minutes of the decision by the obstetrician for such surgery, these obstetrical emergencies often require a delivery within 15-20 minutes or less to prevent any significant brain injury in the baby.
The incidence of each of these obstetrical emergencies is considered rare at less than 5% of deliveries, but if such a problem does occur, the impact is serious, and the effects on the baby and the family can be devastating for the rest of their lives.
If your child has suffered a brain injury due to any of these circumstances, please contact our office to speak with Dr. Fagel to determine if you have a Los Angeles medical malpractice case.
For more information regarding birth injuries, watch the following birth injury summation video featuring Dr. Fagel.
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