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What You Need to Know About Umbilical Cord Injuries and the Law

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

If you suspect that your child has suffered an umbilical cord birth injury, it is imperative that you contact a birth injury lawyer in Michigan, like registered nurse and current practice partner Eileen Kroll at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. to file your claim.

Lawyers specializing in medical malpractice can help families that have been affected by umbilical cord birth injuries to understand the laws in Michigan that protect Michigan children from negligent medical care by a healthcare provider.

The following is Cochran, Kroll, & Associates’ guide to what you need to know about umbilical cord birth injuries and the law in Michigan.

What is an umbilical cord injury?

While many of us know what the umbilical cord is, not everyone is aware of exactly what it is that it does.

In utero, a baby receives the entirety of the oxygen and nutrients that they need to grow and develop from the mother’s blood via the umbilical cord. If at any point during the pregnancy – including during the birthing process – this connection is compromised, it can result in serious health risks and injuries to the child.

Of course, umbilical cord injuries can develop during any pregnancy, even despite a doctor’s high level of competency. However, sometimes, these injuries can be the result of medical malpractice or negligence at the hands of a healthcare provider. This can include the attending physician, nurse, midwife, or any other individual who was present and active in administering care during the pregnancy and birthing processes.

There are different types of umbilical cord injury

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Because the umbilical cord is such a fundamental aspect of a child’s development, any issue that is incurred by the umbilical cord can result in an injury to the child. Because of this, there are various types of umbilical cord injuries.

One of the most common umbilical cord injuries in Michigan is umbilical cord prolapse, which occurs when the cord is compressed during delivery. This can happen if the cord comes out before or while the child is being delivered. While the doctor may be able to move the baby away from the cord and prevent this issue if detected early, this often results in the necessity of a c-section.

However, if a doctor fails to recognize the signs of possible umbilical cord prolapse or fails to act in time to order a c-section, it can result in an avoidable injury to the child, such as oxygen deprivation.

Other common umbilical cord injuries include a nuchal cord (in which the cord becomes wrapped around the child’s neck), a short umbilical cord, and a true knot (when a knot forms in the cord).

Michigan law protects children who have suffered a birth injury

Birth injury law is a subset of medical malpractice law in Michigan that defines and upholds the standards of medical care for mothers and children throughout the pregnancy and birthing processes.

According to this set of laws, you and your child have the right to adequate medical care. If a doctor acts in a manner that is beneath these standards, resulting in a birth injury to your or your child, you can sue for compensation.

This can include umbilical cord complications, as well as maternal and fetal bleeding, failure to recognize fetal distress, infection, or the failure to order a timely c-section.

Experienced malpractice lawyers with an extensive background in successfully pursuing birth injury cases, like Eileen Kroll, can assist parents in determining whether they and their child are eligible for compensation in a birth injury case.

Seek legal help today

When a child suffers a debilitating injury at birth, the entire family suffers, and an umbilical cord injury can have a lasting effect throughout you and your child’s life.

Don’t let the healthcare professionals who are responsible for your child’s injury continue to practice medicine in a manner that can hurt other children. Contact your local birth injury lawyer specialist Eileen Kroll at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C in Michigan today for a free consultation to discuss your rights and what you need to know about umbilical cord injuries and the law.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.

Ms. Barry is studying Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. She has won multiple awards both for her persuasive and creative writing and has written extensively on the topics of medical malpractice law, personal and birth injury law, product liability law. When she's not researching and writing about these topics, she edits a literary magazine and tutors students at Penn's writing center.

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