Facial paralysis, also known as facial palsy, is an injury that an infant may sustain through trauma during birth. Although it is uncommon, the use of forceps during delivery can damage the facial nerves and cause short-term or persistent facial paralysis.
If your child was recently diagnosed with facial paralysis, contact a Morgantown birth injury lawyer from Robinette Legal Group, PLLC for a free consultation. You may have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against a doctor, hospital, or birthing center in Morgantown. We can review your case at no charge or obligation.
When to Contact a Birth Injury Attorney in West Virginia
As soon as your newborn receives a facial palsy diagnosis, contact a Morgantown medical malpractice lawyer who specializes in birth injuries. Telling your story to an attorney can help you find out if your case has merit. If so, an attorney can help you go up against a powerful adversary, such as a hospital.
A Morgantown personal injury lawyer will argue for the financial compensation your child deserves. This is critical for a serious injury such as facial paralysis, which requires ongoing doctor’s appointments and possible treatments in the future. Fair financial compensation from the at-fault party can allow your family to pay for necessary medical care and move forward.
What Causes Facial Paralysis Birth Injuries?
Facial paralysis is a serious birth injury that requires medical care. It can cause symptoms such as asymmetric crying (where the mouth only pulls down on one side when crying), the face appearing uneven, one eyelid not fully closing, little to no movement on one side of the face, loss of facial control, uncontrollable drooling, and difficulty feeding.
Facial palsy can result from developmental issues, congenital reasons, or due to natural birth complications. However, it can also be connected to preventable nerve damage from trauma at the time of birth, such as improper use of forceps or other birth-assistive tools. Incorrect use of forceps can apply too much pressure from the blade to the baby’s head. This can injure a facial nerve and cause facial paralysis.
A doctor can diagnose facial paralysis using special medical tests. Most cases of facial palsy go away in several months, but this condition can be persistent. Treatments can include close monitoring by a doctor, physiotherapy, and possible future surgeries – however, most cases go away on their own. Your family will need to work with a team of specialists for your child’s medical care.
Was Your Child’s Birth Injury Preventable?
Not all birth injuries, including facial paralysis, give families grounds to file medical malpractice lawsuits in West Virginia. To file this type of claim, a family must have clear and convincing evidence of four main elements:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed between you and the defendant at the time of the malpractice.
- The doctor or defendant breached, or violated, the accepted standards of patient care during labor or delivery.
- The defendant’s breach of duty caused your child’s birth injury.
- Your family suffered specific losses as a result, such as emotional distress or medical bills.
If you believe a doctor or another health care provider could have prevented your child’s facial paralysis but carelessly failed to do so, consult with a birth injury lawyer in Morgantown. Your family may be entitled to financial compensation for your current medical bills as well as all future expenses and losses related to the birth injury.
Contact Attorney Jeff Robinette Today | Request Your Free Consultation
Finding out that your baby has facial paralysis is devastating. If you believe a physician or another health care practitioner could have prevented your child’s injury, you may be able to hold that party accountable through a medical malpractice lawsuit in West Virginia. The attorneys at Robinette Legal Group, PLLC can help you bring a claim to pursue justice for your child. Contact us today for a free, confidential case review in Morgantown.
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