Learn what cephalohematoma is and how it relates to medical malpractice law.
Cephalohematoma is a birth injury in which blood pools between a baby’s skull and brain. While it rarely causes brain injury, it can lead to other complications, such as anemia and jaundice. The most common cause of cephalohematoma is trauma to the head during delivery. This trauma may occur because of the negligence of an attending doctor or medical staff member. If so, you may have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit and recover damages.
Why Cephalohematoma Occurs During Delivery
Cephalohematoma may occur when a baby incurs trauma to the skull during delivery. In some cases, this trauma is unavoidable. The baby may have a large head relative to the size of the mother’s birth canal or may hit his or her head against the mother’s pelvis through no fault of the doctor’s.
But in many situations, a doctor’s negligence leads to the baby suffering trauma that leads to cephalohematoma. The condition is associated with the use of birth assistance devices, such as forceps and vacuums. Doctors use these tools to facilitate difficult pregnancies. When their use is justified, they lead to better outcomes for both mother and baby.
But assistance devices have many drawbacks and can increase the risk of birth injuries — head trauma being one of them. Your doctor has a duty to weigh the risks and rewards carefully and, if he or she decides forceps or a vacuum is necessary, must exhibit the utmost care in using them.
Risk Factors for Cephalohematoma
Another duty of your doctor is to know if you possess one or more risk factors for cephalohematoma. If you do, your doctor must factor this information into any decision he or she makes about your delivery. The most common risk factors include:
- A large baby, which can delay the delivery process by moving slowly through the birth canal.
- A small birth canal
- Weak uterine contractions
- A baby in an abnormal position for delivery
- A multiple-baby delivery.
If you had one or more of these risk factors and feel your doctor did not take them into account, we can help you file a medical malpractice claim and pursue damages.
Get a Free Medical Malpractice Case Evaluation Today
The Newsome | Melton legal team helps clients recover damages when the negligence of a health care provider leads to a birth injury. If your child suffered cephalohematoma, we can investigate and determine if your doctor or a member of his or her staff is liable. We can then pursue compensation for your damages. For a free case evaluation with a member of our team, call 888-526-8947
Cephalohematoma - Frequently Asked Questions
Statutes of limitations apply in medical malpractice lawsuits if symptoms were present immediately but got worse recently. However, some states allow tolling, or delaying, the statute of limitations for patients to receive continuing treatment for the injury or illness their doctor allegedly caused. If you believe you sustained a catastrophic injury because of medical malpractice
Read More
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), locked-in syndrome is often caused by a stroke. It is also possible that a patient with locked-in syndrome can suffer a stroke because of a blood clot or other factors. Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder. People with locked-in syndrome cannot consciously or voluntarily chew,
Read MoreCephalohematoma - News Articles
Louisiana Appellate Court Upholds Verdict & Increases Award by $1,186,000 After seeing a gastroenterologist in August 2013 about a pain in his upper right abdomen, Roger Burchfield was referred to the Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Forrest Wright, a surgeon at the medical center, determined that Burchfield, then 58, required immediate gallbladder surgery. Before
Read More
The Law of Medical Malpractice in Maine: A Survey of Basic Considerations Maine medical malpractice law is among the most complex legal practice areas. The statutes, case law, and regulations governing medical malpractice law in Maine are highly technical. For instance, there are very strict and complicated filing deadlines that must be followed, or the injured
Read More