The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion for an Illinois family. While most births happen without complications, when a complication does occur, the infant can suffer from life-long injuries. Some birth injuries lead to developmental delays, which can greatly impact the entire family’s future. Dealing with these injuries may require parents to seek additional care for their child in the form of therapies, special medical equipment for the home, and other accommodations. These accommodations can be quite a financial burden over time.
Developmental delays
Injuries during and after birth can lead to delays in the development of fine motor skills, vision impairment, speech or language delays, cognitive issues, and the inability to develop age-appropriate social and emotional skills. Some children may learn to adapt to these delays through therapy and specialized education. Others may face a lifetime of physical or mental disabilities.
During labor and delivery, babies can be injured if healthcare providers are not monitoring both mother and baby for distress. Failing to act immediately when something goes wrong can lead to birth injuries. While not all birth injuries are due to medical malpractice, when a healthcare professional fails to adhere to the accepted standards of care, it can be considered malpractice.
Parents of birth-injured children
When a child is injured at birth, and is facing developmental delays, the parents likely need resources to help them provide what their child needs to thrive. An injury due to medical malpractice can leave a family wondering where to turn for help in seeking compensation. By working with an Illinois attorney who is knowledgeable of the state’s medical malpractice laws, parents can seek the compensation needed to provide for their injured child.
