Hospital initiative helps reduce high rate of birth injuries

April 16, 2013 (Press-News.org) Hospital initiative helps reduce high rate of birth injuries

Article provided by Clark & Smith Law Firm LLC
Visit us at http://www.clarksmithlaw.com

Each year, four million births occur in U.S. hospitals. Unfortunately, some type of adverse event occurs in approximately nine percent of these births, and about 30 percent of such adverse events are avoidable. Common mistakes that lead to avoidable birth injuries include the misuse of equipment, improper treatment of infections, administration of certain drugs, mistakes during circumcision and even mistakes in the timing of procedures such as Caesarean sections. Thankfully, several hospitals launched an initiative that seems to have helped reduce the high rate of birth injuries.

Hospital initiative reduces the number of birth injuries

In order to help prevent such tragedies, a group of hospitals has started an initiative aimed at lowering the risk of birth injury. In 2008, the Premier Healthcare Alliance launched an initiative with the goals of lowering the number of serious injuries, better defining preventable harm and creating practices that will improve outcomes.

According to the Premier Healthcare Alliance, through the initiative program, the 14 participating hospitals have been able to reduce the cases of birth hypoxia and asphyxia, reduce the amount of anesthesia-related complications by 15 percent and even reduce the cases of postpartum hemorrhage by more than five percent.

In addition, fear of medical malpractice lawsuits may encourage doctors to act more carefully. According to a survey by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 58 percent of ob-gyns changed their practices and procedures out of fear of oncoming suits.

What is a birth injury?

A birth injury occurs when a newborn suffers an injury during the birthing process. The most common birth injuries are caput succedaneum, subconjunctivial hemorrhage, facial paralysis, brachial palsy and fractures.

Some birth injuries might not be diagnosed at birth, but there are several symptoms that can indicate whether a newborn suffers from a birth injury. The most common symptoms include paralysis, unresponsiveness, bruising, deformities, developmental delays, extreme sleepiness, excessive crying and poor muscle control.

Of course, the occurrence of an adverse event during the birthing process not only affects the newborn infant, but can also have detrimental effects on all of the newborn's family members. It may not only be difficult emotionally to help a newborn who suffers from a birth injury, but the ongoing medical treatments can prove to be costly.

Medical malpractice and physician negligence

When the birth injury is a result of a medical provider's negligence, it constitutes medical malpractice. Avoidable birth injuries can also be the product of inefficient procedures and lack of proper training.

Many birth injuries can be prevented by a competent medical professional. Fortunately, the efforts of many hospitals have helped increase awareness of the need to use practices that are likely to decrease the percentage of births involving adverse events. If your newborn has suffered a birth injury, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can discuss all available options with you.