Call Today For A Free Consultation: 480-951-3949

Call Today For A Free Consultation: 480-951-3949

In the face of tragedy, the advocacy you seek matters.

Holding Medical Professionals Accountable For Forceps Injuries

Forceps are rarely used in delivery rooms nowadays, due to the popularity of vacuum extractors. But some obstetricians who are well-trained and experienced in the use of forceps favor the tong-shaped devices. When forceps are used correctly, they can save a baby’s life. Forceps are used in instances of prolonged second-stage labor or if the mother is unable to push her baby out due to exhaustion. Forceps can also be used if the baby’s heart rate becomes abnormal, indicating fetal distress and the need for oxygen. At The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C., in Scottsdale, our attorney works hard to help hold negligent medical professionals accountable and to help you recover the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.

Doctors Are Bound To Follow Strict Medical Protocols

Before a physician can even attempt to extricate a baby from the womb using forceps, he or she must be certain that the mother’s cervix is effaced (thinned out) and dilated.

Safety protocol also requires that a mother’s “bag of water” is ruptured and the baby’s head is “engaged” into the proper position within the birth canal.

A doctor who fails to follow proper medical protocol when delivering a child may be held liable for medical malpractice.

Injuries Caused By Forceps

Misapplication or misuse of forceps during an assisted delivery can cause injuries to a baby, including:

  • Discoloration, bruising and marks on the child’s face and neck
  • Minor cuts and open wounds
  • Subconjunctival hemorrhage
  • Cephalohematoma
  • Facial paralysis due to nerve damage
  • Skull fractures
  • Brain injury

Contact Our Arizona Law Office If Your Child Has Suffered A Birth Injury

If you think your doctor has been negligent and your child is a victim of a forceps-related birth injury caused by medical error, call a lawyer at The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C. at 480-951-3949 or contact us online. Our birth injury and trial lawyer works on a contingency basis. You have no obligation to pay us legal fees unless we settle your case or win a jury award on your behalf. From our offices in Scottsdale, we provide legal representation to people throughout the greater Phoenix area.