Erb''s Palsy
Lawsuit: Delivery Negligence Caused Erb’s Palsy
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March 14th, 2007
"Malpractice Caused Erb's Palsy"
The parents of a boy born with Erb's palsy have filed a lawsuit claiming their child suffered from shoulder dystocia at birth and was born disabled as a result of medical malpractice.
Christy and Dennis Hartmann filed their lawsuit against an obstetrician-gynecologist Diana Peterson, M.D. of Alton Multispecialists in Madison County Circuit Court last week.
The Lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, Peterson was negligent because she failed to use the proper delivery methods for a birth in which shoulder dystocia was present. As a result the doctor put too much pressure on the baby, causing the boy to develop Erb's palsy the suit claims.
The Hartmanns claim that as a result of Peterson's negligence, their baby has suffered pain, suffering, disfigurement, disability, loss of a normal life, and decreased earning potential.
The Hartmanns also claim that the injuries to their baby have caused them to incur and will continue to cause them to incur great medical expenses.
The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $100,000 plus legal expenses.
About Erb's Palsy
Erb's palsy is caused by damage to nerves at the base of the neck, which results in the hindered movement and sensation in the affected arm.
The condition can be caused when a delivering physician applies too much pressure to the baby's head or uses improper technique in trying to remove it from the mother.
It is especially common in difficult birth cases, such as those where the child is presented upside down, after a prolonged labor or when the baby is large.
About one or two of every 1,000 babies are afflicted with this condition at birth according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Most infants recover sensation and movement in the affected limb.
Victim of medical malpractice? If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice, please contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney who can answer your questions and help you plan the best recourse.
