Category Archives: Erbs Palsy

UK Child with Erb’s Palsy Receives Six Figure Settlement From Negligent Hospital

A High Court judge in London approved an undisclosed, six figure payout to 9-year-old Demi Newell from the UK’s National Health System. Nuneaton News reported that the girl’s family accused George Eliot Hospital of negligent care during her birth, which subsequently caused her diagnosis of Erb’s palsy. During Demi’s delivery in 2003, she was so large that her shoulders became stuck—a condition known as shoulder dystocia. Because she was stuck, the medical professionals at Eliot negligently pulled her by her head in their attempts to deliver her. The malpractice resulted in a serious injury to Demi’s brachial plexus, an important network of nerves near the neck that signals the shoulders, arms and hands to move. This type of injury often leads to later diagnoses of Erb’s palsy. The injury Demi sustained to her brachial plexus caused her to have restricted use of one of her arms, making everyday activities more…
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Illinois Mother Files Lawsuit Alleging Medical Negligence

A mother has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois with allegations of medical negligence by the health care practitioners during her child’s birth. The plaintiff alleges that this medical negligence caused severe birth trauma and resulted in a diagnosis of Erb’s palsy. During her pregnancy, the Illinois mother developed fetal macrosomia— a term that is used to describe a newborn who is larger than 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Fetal macrosomia often makes traditional delivery difficult, thereby putting the baby at risk of birth trauma and brain injury. Certain precautions are used by medical professionals in other situations which involve fetal macrosomia in order to lessen this risk. This includes providing alternative methods of delivery, such as a C-section. The plaintiff’s newborn weighed 11 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. Due to the child’s large size, the newborn suffered a brachial plexus injury during…
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Doctor’s Excessive Force Leads to Newborn’s Erb’s Palsy

One mistake during childbirth can cause permanent complications. According to a recent lawsuit, an Illinois doctor used too much force during delivery, resulting in the newborn’s Erb’s palsy. A woman went to Mt. Sinai Hospital on July 3, 2010 to give birth to her daughter. During delivery, her daughter’s shoulder became stuck behind her mother’s pelvic bone. This situation is known as shoulder dystocia, and it creates a dangerous challenge for everyone involved. Since the baby is so fragile at this stage, any undue stress can cause serious injuries. According to the mother, the doctor used too much force when removing the child and damaged her brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves near the top of the spine that controls limb movement. The nerve damage resulted in Erb’s Palsy, a condition that can cause paralysis of the arm. The mother sued the doctor for ignoring the…
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