31 March

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Cord Discord: Umbilical Cord Medical Malpractice Birth Injury

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

Umbilical cord issues during pregnancy and delivery are not uncommon. In fact, it is estimated that between 20 to 30 percent of all babies have one or more “loops” of umbilical cord wrapped around their necks or another body part in utero or at birth (called a nuchal cord).1 While the thought of it may be unnerving, an article in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that a majority of the time nuchal cords don’t cause serious complications.2 However, in some cases umbilical cord problems are the result of medical malpractice negligence resulting in serious injury to an infant,...

05 March

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5 Common Questions About Cephalohematoma Birth Injuries

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

Birth injuries involving a baby’s head can be particularly concerning and stress inducing. Among them are those involving cephalohematomas. The following are five commonly asked questions about cephalohematoma birth injuries: 1. What Is A Cephalohematoma? A cephalohematoma occurs when blood collects between a newborn baby’s scalp and skull due to broken blood vessels in the scalp. It sometimes coincides with a linear skull fracture. 2. What Causes A Cephalohematoma? Pressure on a baby’s head. This can be due to a number of situations, including vacuum delivery, forceps use, a high birth weight baby, multiple number of babies (twins, triplets, or more), epidural use, a...

22 February

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Four Types of Perineal Tear Birth Injuries

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

Perineal tears are a relatively common occurrence during childbirth. In fact, Cleveland Clinic reports that up to 90% of vaginal births result in perineal tears.1 While in many cases such tears require only minor suturing — or none at all — and do not result in long-term trauma, in others they cause severe damage. The latter are sometimes due to doctor or midwife error in the form of medical malpractice negligence. Failure to properly monitor birthing stages, for example, may result in a perineal tear birth injury. In such a case, a doctor or midwife may be liable for medical...

15 February

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Congenital Herpes Birth Injury

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common viral infection that is the cause of cold sores and sexually transmitted herpes outbreaks. Known as congenital herpes simplex when it is transmitted to an infant during pregnancy or birth, it can affect the infant’s brain, causing encephalitis that results in seizures.1 In the most severe of cases, it can also affect an infant’s lungs, liver, and kidneys, and may lead to death.2 Failure of an OB-GYN, midwife, or other medical professional to confirm the existence of HSV in a patient (and also a patient’s partner or spouse) who knowingly has the virus can...

06 February

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Forceps: Friend or Foe?

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

The use of forceps during birth is a common practice among difficult deliveries. Unfortunately, it can often result in injury to an infant, mother, or both. Injuries to an infant can include brain damage, nerve injuries, fractures, and eye injuries, while maternal injuries can include pelvic damage and severe lacerations.1,2,3 In many instances such injuries are due to medical malpractice negligence. In some cases, a medical malpractice negligence birth injury due to improper forceps use may improve or resolve over time with appropriate care. In other cases, such medical malpractice negligence birth injuries may be long-term or permanent and cause substantial...

25 January

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Distracted Doctors: An Unacceptable Cause Of Birth Injuries

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

“Where’s the doctor? We have an emergency.” Those are words no one wants to hear in any medical situation, including during labor and delivery. Distracted doctors can cause a lack of prompt attention and proper care can lead to lifelong devastating consequences or death. Seconds count. And while there may be a valid reason in some instances in which a doctor is not in attendance when he or she should be, being preoccupied with one’s own personal activities for self-benefit is not one of them. In 2017, noted Miami attorney Richard “Bo” Sharp served as lead counsel in the $33.8 million Federal...

16 January

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Infant Brain Damage Birth Injury

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

The devastation that results when parents become aware that their infant has a brain damage birth injury is immeasurable. The heartbreak is paralleled with questions: How did this happen? Who is responsible? Will my baby survive? How do I care for my baby? The list is long. Finding out what type of infant brain damage has been sustained is an important first step. One example is when there has been insufficient or restricted oxygen or blood flow to an infant’s brain (known as birth asphyxia), which can cause a type of brain dysfunction called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).1,2 It can occur at...

08 January

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Infant Eye Injuries Birth Injuries In Instrument-Assisted Delivery

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

All birth injuries are devastating, particularly those that create long-term or permanent deficits and hardships for infants and families. Among the most troubling are eye-related (ocular) birth injuries due to medical malpractice negligence, many of which occur during instrument-related delivery via the use of forceps.1 Research has shown that infant eye injuries include corneal abrasions, hemorrhages in the eye, scarring, and permanent loss of visual acuity.2 Other related injuries include damage to the eyelids, which can result in the need for multiple surgeries and may result in permanent facial deformity.2 In some cases, more than one incidence of medical malpractice negligence by...

22 December

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The 8-Year Deadline: Do You Have A Birth Injury Case That Qualifies?

Posted by mslaw

in Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence

Caring for a healthy infant takes time and energy. Caring for an infant with birth injuries can be overwhelming and exhausting at a different level, making it difficult to find time for self care, let alone the time and energy to find an expert birth injury lawyer or legal team. However, seeking legal help with a birth injury case can offer many benefits, including ensuring fair financial compensation for what lies ahead for both child and family. Not to mention justice. But what if you don’t realize your infant has a birth injury due to physician medical malpractice negligence? Or your...

16 December

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Leading Miami Lawyer Richard Bo Sharp Lands Top 3 Spot Nationally For Birth Injury MedMal Settlement

Posted by mslaw

in Awards, Honors & Accolades, Birth Injury, M&S In The News, Medical Malpractice

The legal prowess of record-setting medical malpractice birth injury lawyer Richard Bo Sharp of noted law firm Mallard & Sharp is no secret. Previously recognized for recovering one of the top 21 personal injury settlements nationally in 2022, Sharp has also recently been listed third on Top Verdict’s top ten list for medical malpractice settlements recovered in the nation last year. Sharp’s sharp focus: birth injury medical malpractice negligence. The recovery in the case that garnered him a top-three position in winning settlements was a record-setting $12,000,000 in the Federal Tort Claim Action styled HACKING vs. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Case...

Birth Injury

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