Who is at Fault for Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries? Oregon Birth Injury Lawyers

Oregon Birth Injury Lawyers Explain Who is at Fault for Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries

 

There are many different types of birth injuries that could be caused by the reckless, careless, and negligent actions or inactions of a healthcare provider.  One of the more common types of birth injuries which could result in a lifetime of complications includes brachial plexus birth injuries.  This type of Oregon birth injury is a type of nerve injury to a baby’s arm or at the base of the neck.  Brachial plexus birth injuries can result in a range of disability for a person.  This ranges from mild and temporary inconvenience to permanent inability to use the arm.  While there are many ways that a brachial plexus birth injury could be caused by natural complications of the birthing process, our Oregon birth injury lawyers know that many times a victim’s family will want to know who is at fault for brachial plexus birth injuries.

 

The answer is that any healthcare provider who handles your newborn could be at fault for a brachial plexus next injury.  This is probably not what a victim’s family wants to hear, but the truth is that any healthcare provider could cause brachial plexus birth injuries to a child.  This means that families who have had a loved one suffer serious birth injuries such a brachial plexus nerve injury should have Oregon birth injury lawyers review the medical files to determine who is at fault for brachial plexus birth injuries.  In addition to actual doctors or support staff, other unexpected entities like hospitals and other entities could also be at fault for your child’s birth injury.

 

What is a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury?

 

The first step is to understand what the brachial plexus birth injury is and how it effects a person.  The brachial plexus is part of the peripheral nervous system.  This is the nervous system which branches out from the spinal cord and stretches to the fingertips and toes.  The purpose of the peripheral nervous system is for perception, sensation, and to tell muscles to move.  The peripheral nerves take in this information or send out this information from the central nervous system which is the brain and the spinal cord.  The brain analyzes the information from the peripheral nervous system and decides what to do next, either cognitively or autonomously.  The spinal cord is the messenger superhighway between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.

 

The brachial plexus is a combination of a series of nerves which come off of the neck.  These nerves snake out of the vertebrae and meet at the base of the neck where they combine into the brachial plexus.  The brachial plexus extends to the shoulder and down the arm.  It splits into several larger branches and then consolidates again at the elbow before splitting again to go through forearm, wrist, palm, and to the fingertips.

 

Types of Brachial Plexus Injuries

 

There are really four types of brachial plexus nerve injuries which could be caused by Oregon birth injuries from a doctor or healthcare provider.  These four types of brachial plexus birth injuries include the following:

 

• Neurapraxia – this is the most common type of brachial plexus nerve injury which is caused by the stretching of the nerve but not its tearing.
• Neuroma – this is the next common type of brachial plexus nerve injury which is damage to the nerve itself which starts to heal but causes a bumpy piece of scar tissue along it that causes nerve irritation.  This scar tissue can affect how the nerve functions, including causing severe pain.
• Avulsion – this is the most serious type of brachial plexus birth injury which is caused when the nerve is torn out of the spinal cord.  This injury usually cannot be surgically repaired and is catastrophic because it shuts off part of the sensation and function of the arm.  There could be other bodily effects from an avulsion include issues with the diaphragm and breathing, or a droopy eyelid known as Horner’s syndrome.
• Rupture – this is not as serious as an avulsion but still very serious.  This type of brachial plexus injury is caused when the nerve is torn completely apart but at a location other than the spinal cord.  This means that the rupture may be surgically repaired, although it is very difficult to do for a baby.

 

Who is at Fault for Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries in Oregon?

 

Now seeing the four types of brachial plexus injuries, it should be clear that the most likely healthcare provider who could be at fault is the physician or healthcare provider handling the labor and delivery.  This is because physicians are supposed to control and monitor a mother and baby from conception to birth when brachial plexus injuries could occur.  Our Oregon brachial plexus birth injury lawyers know that OB-GYNs, family care practitioners, and primary care physicians are the most likely culpable individuals for brachial plexus nerve injuries to a baby.

 

Here is a list of other individuals who may be at fault for brachial plexus birth injures:

 

• OB-GYN;
• PCP or FCP;
• Nurses in the labor and delivery room;
• NICU nurses;
• Nurse practitioners;
• Physician assistants;
• Anesthesia team during a c-section;
• Emergency room physicians;
• Emergency room nurses;
• Technicians; and
• Other healthcare providers.

 

Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries to Your Loved One Should Come to Our Oregon Birth Injury Lawyers

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover. 

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.  

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.  

 

Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.