What are Forceps
Forceps are devices that are used to extract the baby from the birth canal during delivery. They are designed with a curved end that wraps around the head of the baby. The ends of the curved side touch the baby's cheeks and are connected at the base like a pair of scissors. Forceps can injure the baby's nerves or skull when too much pressure is applied during the birth process.
The Appropriate Use of Forceps
Forceps are used during delivery when the baby is in distress, or when the mother is experiencing difficulty in delivering the child. To facilitate the safe use of forceps, the obstetrician must ensure that the mother is fully dilated and the membranes are ruptured. When the baby's head is too large to make it through the mother's pelvis (cephalopelvic disproportion), forceps are not suitable to be used, as it could damage the baby's head or nerves.
Using forceps can have multiple advantages, provided they are used with care and only if the situation warrants. Forceps often help avoid a C-section and reduce duration of delivery process. They are usually used at ease when the baby's body is in a straight line inside the birth canal, with the head entering the pelvis first. Various factors help obstetricians determine the need for forceps during delivery, such as:
· Maternal factors
o Prolonged labor in the second stage
o Medications and drugs that affect the mother's efforts to push
o Illnesses such as high blood pressure or heart disease in the mother that make it difficult and dangerous for her to push
· Fetal factors
o Breeched position
o Irregular fetal heart rate
Certain pre-requisites must be double-checked for, before deciding on forceps delivery:
· The baby's head is engaged.
· The cervix is dilated fully.
· Membranes are ruptured.
· Positioning of the baby is known. If unknown, an ultrasound must be performed to understand the fetal presentation.
· Fetal size is accurately measured by clinical pelvimetry.
· Maternal anesthesia is administered without room for error.
· Maternal bladder is empty.
· The mother is informed about the risks of forceps delivery.
· The physician is skilled and experienced in administering forceps delivery.
Injury by Forceps and Legal Remedies
When an able and competent obstetrician administers the birth process, delivery using forceps can be safe, quick, and painless. However, improper use of forceps can result in permanent injuries to the mother and baby. Negligent use of forceps can lead to any of the following injuries:
· Skull fracture
· Lacerations or bruising to the vagina or cervix
· Brain damage
· Lacerations or bruising to the baby's head
· Facial nerve palsy
· Intracranial hemorrhage
· Cerebral palsy
· Delayed development
· Brachial plexus injuries
Call Us Now for Remedy
If you or your child has suffered due to medical negligence during forceps delivery, get in touch with our New York City Medical Malpractice Attorneys to weigh your best options for legal action. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff have law offices situated in Astoria, Queens, New York City and two offices in Brooklyn.
Our attorneys understand your agony and know how to win cases. If you want to increase the size of your bank account, we are the law firm that has proven itself in the legal trenches many times before and even now with other clients. If you have a winning case, we will know what steps to take to rattle the other side. Call 212-344-1000now if you want to see the end of the rainbow.
Your baby should be protected!
|$15 Million - Jury Award for Brain Injury|
|$15 Million - Neurosurgical Brain Injury|
|$10.5 Million - Injured Infant Brain Damage|
|$9 Million - Brain Injured Baby Settlement|
|$7.75 Million - Settlement Injury To A Child|
|$7.5 Million - Injured Construction Worker Settlement|
|$7.25 Million - Intersection Accident Settlement NYC|
|$5.5 Million - Bus Accident Award|
|$5.5 Million - Injured Child|
|$5.5 Million - Blinded Woman|
|$5.45 Million - Injured Child|
|$5.4 Million - Construction Burn Victim|
|$5.1 Million - Motorcycle Victim|
|$5 Million - Construction Worker Back Injury|
|$5 Million - Eye Surgery|
|$4.5 Million - Failure to Perform C-Section|
|$4.5 Million - Personal Injury Settlement|
|$4.4 Million - Failure to Diagnose Infection|
|$4.125 Million - Failure to Diagnose Quadriplegia|
|$4.0 Million - NYC Hospital Negligence Birth Injury|
|$3.8 Million - Electrician|
|$3.75 Million - Hospital Negligence Sepsis|
|$3.7 Million - Birth Injury Infant Stroke|
|$3.5 Million - Faulty Freight Elevator Fall|
|$3.4 Million - Surgical Error Bronxville Hospital|
|$3.28 Million - Eye Surgery Case|
|$3.15 Million - Settlement for a Brooklyn Laborer|
|$3.1 Million - Verdict Returned by NY Jury|
|$3.1 Million - Awarded by Brooklyn Jurors|
|$3 Million - Birth Injury Development Delays|
|$3 Million - Settlement Scaffold Injury Hudson Yard|
|$3 Million - Hot Water Burn Death|
|$2.6 Million - Surgical Error Premature Death|
|$2.5 Million - Construction Concrete Worker Settlement|
|$2.5 Million - Hospital Malpractice Toddler Hemiplegia|
|$2.4 Million - Failure to Diagnose Lead to Paralysis|
|$2.3 Million - Birth Injury Brain Damage|
|$2.1 Million - Hospital Negligence Birth Injury|
|$2.1 Million - Failure to Diagnose Stroke|
|$2.1 Million - Surgical Error Paraplegic|
|$2.1 Million - Injured Worker|
|$2 Million - Hospital Negligence Permanent Injury|
|$2 Million - Malpractice Settlement Delay in Delivery|
|$2 Million - Verdict against Hospital|
|$1.8 Million - Failure to Diagnose Tumor|
|$1.75 Million - Diagnosing Prostate Cancer|
|$1.5 Million - Prostate Procedure Malpractice|
|$1.5 Million - Delay in Treatment - Nerve Damage|
MANHATTAN LAW OFFICE
122 East 42nd Street Suite 3800
New York, NY 10168
QUEENS LAW OFFICE
8900 Sutphin Blvd Suite 501
Queens, NY 11435
Tel: (718) 399-3100
*By Appointment Only
BRONX LAW OFFICE
220-226 E 161st Street
The Bronx, NY 10451
Tel: (212) 344-1000
*By Appointment Only