Cephalohematoma Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice

The birth of a child should be a joyous event. However, when a birth injury such as cephalohematoma is caused by medical malpractice, the emotional, physical, and financial consequences for the family can be overwhelming and life-altering. These types of injuries often result in long-term medical needs, emotional distress, and significant financial strain for ongoing treatment and care. When such harm is caused by a healthcare provider’s negligence, parents may be entitled to recover compensation for the damages they and the child suffered by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Key Takeaways

• Cephalohematoma is characterized by a soft, localized bump on an infant’s scalp caused by a collection of blood following head trauma during birth. While these injuries typically heal naturally over weeks or months, serious complications can occur in some cases.
• A doctor, midwife, or other healthcare professional may be held liable for cephalohematoma caused by medical malpractice if the injury arises from their failure to adhere to the accepted standards of care in the medical community.
• If cephalohematoma is caused by medical malpractice, families may seek economic and non-economic damages for the harm they and their child suffered.

What Are Cephalohematoma Birth Injuries?

Cephalohematoma birth injuries are caused by trauma to an infant’s head during the birthing process and usually develop within a few hours after delivery. These injuries may be due to a difficult or prolonged labor, the use of extractors or forceps during delivery, or the positioning of the baby. They are characterized by a soft localized bump on the scalp caused by the pool of blood that collects. Typically, the swelling stops at the edges of the skull bones.

While most cephalohematomas heal on their own over several weeks or months without the need for medical intervention, complications can sometimes arise. A large volume of reabsorbed blood under a newborn’s scalp can lead to jaundice, anemia, and infections. In serious cases, it may lead to osteomyelitis (bone infection), cellulitis, or sepsis. Some infants with cephalohematomas may also have a linear skull fracture.

When Are Cephalohematoma Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice?

Although many cases of cephalohematoma are benign, it can cause permanent disability, developmental delays, and neurological damage if complications arise due to a healthcare provider’s failure to act promptly. In such cases, a doctor or midwife may be held liable for medical malpractice. Although not every case of cephalohematoma results from negligence, these injuries can be caused by medical malpractice due to a healthcare provider’s:

• Misuse of forceps, vacuum extractors, or other delivery tools
• Applying excessive pressure to the infant’s head during delivery
• Failing to recognize that a baby is too large for the birth canal, leading to delay in performing a C-section
• Failing to properly monitor maternal and infant health indicators
• Failing to refer the infant to a specialist when symptoms worsen
• Ignoring conditions such as anemia or jaundice
• Delaying treatment of cephalohematoma injuries

When cephalohematoma leads to severe and preventable complications, it may be necessary to pursue a lawsuit to hold the doctor or midwife accountable for their carelessness and recover compensation for the child’s long-term care needs.

How Can You Prove Cephalohematoma Was Caused by Medical Malpractice?

Cephalohematoma caused by medical malpractice can be challenging to prove. This is why it’s crucial to have a skilled birth injury attorney who understands the nuances of these types of cases and knows how to gather the medical evidence necessary to establish liability and damages. Specifically, in order to prevail in a claim for cephalohematoma caused by medical malpractice, several elements must be established:

1. Duty: A patient-provider relationship must have existed.
2. Breach: The provider must have failed to meet the accepted standards of care in the medical community required for childbirth.
3. Causation: The provider’s deviation from the standard of care must have directly caused the infant’s injury
4. Damages: The injury must have resulted in measurable damages.

If you can show that the healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused or substantially contributed to your child’s cephalohematoma, you may be entitled to recover a wide range of damages by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.

What Compensation Can You Recover for Cephalohematoma Caused by Medical Malpractice?

In a medical malpractice claim for cephalohematoma, you may be entitled to recover the economic and non-economic damages incurred due to the healthcare provider’s negligence. While every case is unique, economic damages can generally include the following:

• Past and future medical expenses related to the injury
• Ongoing treatment costs for hospitalization, rehabilitation, specialist care, and surgeries
• Long-term care costs, including assisted care expenses
• Future anticipated medical costs related to complications or permanent disability
• Out-of-pocket costs related to the child’s care and medical treatment
• A parent’s loss of earning capacity or wages due to having to reduce their hours or become a full-time caregiver

Non-economic damages are meant to address the emotional impact of the injury. This category of damages can compensate for the pain and suffering experienced by the child, mental anguish, the child’s loss of enjoyment of life or developmental milestones, and the emotional distress caused by permanent disability.

Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney

Cephalohematoma caused by medical malpractice can have lasting consequences, and it’s critical to have a skilled medical malpractice attorney by your side who can assist you with understanding your legal rights and options. Serving Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, the Fraser Law Firm is dedicated to helping families and children who have suffered birth injuries secure the monetary recovery they are entitled under the law. Contact the Fraser Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help.