Erb's Palsy

Los Angeles Birth Injury Lawyers

Erb's Palsy, or Erb-Duchenne Palsy, is a medical condition characterized by a paralysis of the arm due to injury to the upper group of the arm's main nerves. These nerves comprise part of the brachial plexus, which is a bundle of nerves extending from the arm through the shoulder and neck.  Injury to the brachial plexus and Erb's Palsy are primarily caused by physical trauma during childbirth. In a difficult birth, the infant may be unable to pass safely through the birth canal without significant physical manipulation, during which the shoulder and neck may be unnaturally stretched or distorted. Depending on the severity of nerve damage, the infant may heal on his or her own or may require physical therapy or surgery to recover.

Is Erb's Palsy Related to Medical Malpractice?

Because most instances of Erb's Palsy are caused by difficult childbirths, it is possible that medical malpractice was the cause. A doctor may fail to diagnose a condition where an infant is too large to pass through the birth canal or may attempt to avoid performing a c-section when it would have been safer for mother and baby. In these cases, or if a doctor was careless or negligent in a forceps or vacuum delivery or in assisting the infant in passing through the birth canal, this may be grounds for a malpractice claim. A Los Angeles birth injury lawyer at Pacific Attorney Group can meet with you to discuss your particular case and whether negligent medical care may have been the cause for your child's suffering.

Contacting an Erb's Palsy Attorney

With the help of a skilled attorney, you may be able to bring a claim against the doctor or other party responsible for your child's condition. In doing so, you have the opportunity to recover financial compensation to pay for medical care, physical therapy, surgery, and any continued medical treatment. This may allow your child to have a better chance of making a full recovery.

Contact a Los Angeles Erb's Palsy lawyer at our law firm today for more information about this serious condition and how we can help you.