Birth Injury Lawyer Timmins

Servicing Timmins and all of Ontario

The obstetrician’s office. Prenatal classes. The maternity ward. A delivery room. A nursery.

When a woman learns she’s pregnant, she can expect her journey over the next months and years will lead her to certain places. Sadly, some women discover they will need to visit a place on this journey they would never have expected: a lawyer’s office.

Welcoming a new life into the world and a new member into your family should be a time of great joy. For the vast majority of new mothers and their loved ones, the story unfolds exactly as it should. But sometimes this joy turns to sorrow when a newborn faces significant medical challenges.

Learning that your child is seriously ill or has sustained a preventable injury is naturally distressing. But if you suspect that a trusted medical provider’s negligent actions or inaction caused or contributed to this harm, it can be absolutely devastating.

Common Types of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries may occur at any point during a pregnancy, during labour and delivery, and in the immediate postpartum period while a mother and her child continue to be under obstetrical care. There are a variety of ways a medical provider’s negligence or incompetence can cause or contribute to one of these injuries:

Improper testing or evaluation of tests – During a pregnancy, standard tests are used to screen for conditions such as spina bifida (a failure of the vertebrae to enclose the nerves around the spine). Poor management of maternal or fetal health can also lead to problems. For example, brain damage may occur due to placental insufficiency (lack of oxygen and nutrients from a damaged placenta or a placenta that fails grow to sustain a fetus) or maternal or in utero infection. These conditions must be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.
Delayed delivery or traumatic birth – If labour is lengthy a baby may experience fetal distress. Often indicated by fetal tachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate) or the presence of meconium (first fecal matter) in amniotic fluid, fetal distress may lead to perinatal asphyxia (oxygen deprivation) that causes brain damage. Prolonged labour may also increase the risk of shoulder dystocia (where a baby’s head is delivered but the shoulders remain lodged behind the woman’s pelvic bone) and brachial plexus injuries. Poorly handled forced extractions can also cause fractures, soft tissue damage, and serious spinal cord damage or brain injuries.
Poor postpartum care – A newborn must be closely monitored following birth to reduce the risk of other birth injuries. For example, jaundice is a common condition for many babies that usually resolves on its own or with minimal intervention. However, if severe jaundice is left untreated or treatment is delayed, it can lead to a condition called kernicterus that results in serious brain injury.
Debilitating pain from nerve damage, disability from conditions such as Cerebral Palsy or paraplegia, or disfigurement from birth trauma – a birth injury can change the course of a life forever.

If You’ve Been Hurt, We’re Here To Help

When a medical provider’s negligent actions or inaction has breached standards of care and caused serious harm to a pregnant woman, her fetus or newborn child, it’s called obstetrical malpractice. Howie, Sacks and Henry’s birth injury lawyers have developed expertise in this challenging area of law and are ready to help you in Timmins if you or your loved one has sustained a serious birth injury.

Recognized as one of Canada’s top personal injury firms, HSH birth injury lawyers have developed a reputation for providing our clients with compassionate, empathetic and caring service. We realize that you are contacting us at one of the most difficult times in your life. We want to show you that you are always more than a file to us. At HSH, you will seen as a person who deserves, respect, dignity and kindness throughout this process.

HSH birth injury lawyers are pleased to meet you in your own home in Timmins or at a nearby consultation office. Your ability to travel should never be an obstacle to receiving high quality legal representation.

When we meet, we will take time to listen to your story and learn just how you and your loved ones have been affected. As we discuss your legal options and offer our advice, we will be sure to answer any questions you may have to ensure you are fully part of this process and confident that your legal team is supportive and attentive to your needs. HSH will gladly facilitate and arrange appointments for tests, evaluations and therapy to both strengthen your case and promote recovery and healing for you and your loved ones..

Trust an HSH birth injury lawyer to be your advocate in Timmins. A visit with a lawyer may be an unplanned chapter in your birth story, but with a member of our team by your side and on your side, together we can work to give you hope there are better days ahead.