What Is Shoulder Dystocia?

When a baby’s head becomes stuck behind his or her mother’s pubic bone, doctors have specific actions they can take to prevent injury to the baby. They can, for example, put pressure on the mother’s belly, turn the baby, or perform an episiotomy or C-section.

When a doctor fails to do any of these things and pulls on the baby, he or she may cause shoulder dystocia — distress of the shoulder that can cause brachial plexus injury. Usually, shoulder dystocia injuries are temporary and go away after a few weeks. In some cases, however, shoulder dystocia can cause broken bones, nerve injuries, paralysis and even oxygen deprivation.

If your child has suffered a serious shoulder dystocia injury caused by a delivery doctor’s negligence, you may be able to bring a birth injury claim. Contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Sokol & Associates, P.C., to discuss your options. Call 503-575-9683 now to schedule your free consultation.

Experienced Legal Help During A Challenging Time

Our birth injury attorneys have experience in a wide range of cases involving injuries to children. We understand that you need to focus on your family during this difficult time and have the experience necessary to take on the legal burden for you. In fact, attorney Larry Sokol has been handling medical malpractice claims for more than 40 years.

Was Your Baby’s Shoulder Dystocia Caused By Medical Negligence?

Determining whether medical negligence caused shoulder dystocia can be challenging. You must be able to show that your doctor did not follow the standard of care required by his or her profession and that the shoulder dystocia would not have occurred but for that negligence.

In many cases, shoulder dystocia is a natural result of giving birth. In other cases, there is clear evidence that your doctor caused the shoulder dystocia by his actions or inactions. In those cases, it is not only possible to hold the doctor accountable for medical negligence, but also an important thing to do to ensure no other baby experiences what your child has had to suffer.

Free Consultation With Our Portland Birth Injury Attorneys

Call now for a free consultation about your shoulder dystocia case: 503-575-9683.
We represent birth injury clients throughout Oregon.