Category Archives: Shoulder Dystocia

Can I File a Shoulder Dystocia Lawsuit?

According to the Alton Telegraph, an Illinois jury awarded a family $1 million after a doctor was accused of injuring a child during a botched delivery attempt. The news source reported that Jamie Rae, of Staunton, filed a lawsuit on behalf of her daughter, Bailei Rae, who was born March 1, 2011, with a weak, motionless arm. The child reportedly suffered nerve root damage because she was born naturally, rather than through a Cesarean section delivery. According to the Telegraph, the baby weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces, which is larger than normal and should have warranted a surgical delivery—the child’s shoulder became stuck during delivery, which should not have occurred during a surgical procedure. The jury awarded damages for disfigurement, disability, pain and suffering and past medical expenses and $516,000 for future medical treatment for a total of $1 million, according to the Telegraph. Why Should I Speak to an…
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How Do Brachial Plexus Injuries Affect Newborns?

Sadly, many shoulder dystocia incidents during birth occur because of errors on the part of medical providers—these incidents occur when a baby’s head is delivered, and his or her shoulders are stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone. Unfortunately, babies who suffer from brachial plexus injuries may endure a lifetime of physical problems including a lack of muscle control, a lack of feeling in the arms, limited use of the hands, and in some severe cases, total loss of use of the arm and hand. It is estimated that about 10 percent of shoulder dystocia cases are severe, and may require extensive and grueling therapy in order to assist the injuries. When errors occur during a delivery, they typically involve doctors failing to act in a timely matter, resulting in the stretching or tearing of a child’s brachial plexus. Recently, it was reported that one Wisconsin child reportedly suffered injuries because…
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Illinois Woman Files Lawsuit After Child Born With Shoulder and Arm Problems

According to the Madison-St. Clair Record, a woman in Illinois has filed a lawsuit against a hospital claiming that its doctors were reckless and caused irreparable damages to her newborn child. The news outlet reported that Sarah Waller filed a lawsuit against Anderson Hospital after her child Clayton became stuck during his August 2011 delivery. According to the lawsuit, Waller said that doctors at the hospital failed to estimate Clayton’s weight prior to his birth, resulting in a delayed delivery. Waller also claims that she was not offered a C-section delivery and that the excess pressure applied to Clayton during his birth resulted in permanent nerve damage in his shoulder and extreme pain. The child reportedly has limited use and movement of his shoulder, arm and hand. Named in the lawsuit, which was filed in Madison County Circuit Court, were Dr. Thomas Hulsen, Dr. James J. Dalla Riva and Southwestern…
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Posted in Birth Defects, Birth Trauma, Shoulder Dystocia | Comments Off on Illinois Woman Files Lawsuit After Child Born With Shoulder and Arm Problems