Verdicts & Settlements: Vacuum Extractor and Forceps Injuries
In this section, we’ll briefly explain a few of the cases our birth injury lawyers have won and settled regarding vacuum extractor and forceps injuries. To learn more about how the misuse of vacuum extractors and forceps can lead to cerebral palsy, intracranial hemorrhages, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and other birth injuries, we encourage you to read our vacuum extractors and forceps page here.
As you read through the following verdicts and settlements achieved by our birth injury attorneys, we urge you to reach out to our medical and legal professionals with any questions, concerns, or case inquiries you may have. You may contact our cerebral palsy lawyers toll-free at (888) 592-1857 or fill out our online contact form.
1. Child Wins $6.15 Million
Incorrect Use of Vacuum Extractor and Failure to Perform C-Section Lead to Stroke and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) with Resultant Cerebral Palsy and Brain Damage
In this case, medical professionals failed to perform an emergency C-section on a woman with a high-risk pregnancy and a fetus in distress. Instead, the physician violated the standard of care for the particular delivery situation and used a vacuum extractor to perform the vaginal delivery. The baby exhibited signs of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) during delivery, the physician was absent for the first two and a half hours of labor, and only an inexperienced medical professional watched the fetal heart rate monitor for signs of distress. As delivery progressed, the baby developed a nuchal cord (a complication in which the umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck, compromising the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain). According to the standard of care, the physician was required to order and perform an emergency C-section at this time to prevent further trauma, distress, and oxygen deprivation, but the physician continued with the vaginal delivery. The baby was diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, suffered a stroke, and was left with brain damage and cerebral palsy.
2. Child Wins $3.6 Million
Misuse of Forceps Leads to Intracranial Hemorrhaging with Resultant Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, and Seizures
A mother with an otherwise normal, healthy pregnancy reached 40 weeks of pregnancy. At this point, fetal monitoring reported a few non-reassuring signals and medical professionals induced labor. During delivery, medical professionals incorrectly used forceps to aid in the progression of labor, and the misuse of the forceps resulted in head trauma and intracranial hemorrhages (brain bleeds) with resultant seizures, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy.
3. Child Wins $1.125 Million
Misuse of Vacuum Extractor Leads to Intracranial Hemorrhaging with Consequential Seizure Disorder and Cerebral Palsy
In this case, the mother was scheduled for a labor induction at 40 weeks and three days of pregnancy. Problems, primarily with the baby’s heart rate, developed as labor progressed. In spite of abnormal fetal heart tracings, the doctor allowed an inexperienced, first-year resident to perform a vacuum extraction procedure on the baby. When the resident used the vacuum extractor incorrectly, the baby suffered intracranial hemorrhaging (bleeding within the brain and/or skull). This instance of medical malpractice left the child with cerebral palsy and an extreme seizure disorder.