Birth Injury Medical Terminology
This birth injury glossary provides definitions of the topic listed. The information presented is not meant to be comprehensive or to replace medical opinion on a condition, disorder or birth injury. Please consult with a doctor or The Birth Injury Team for more information on available resources.
Cerebral palsy: A disorder usually caused by oxygen deficiency during labor that often results in limited muscle movement and coordination.
Brain injury: An injury that is either a closed-head injury, such as oxygen deprivation, or open-head injury, such as a puncture or cut by a medical instrument. Brain injuries during birth can cause permanent damage.
Erb's palsy: A condition caused by serious damage to the brachial plexus. The injury affects shoulder, arm and hand movement and can be permanent.
Oxygen deficiency: A deprivation of oxygen can occur during labor due to umbilical cord problems or delivery complications.
Shoulder dystocia: When the baby becomes lodged behind the mother's pubic bone, preventing normal delivery. Shoulder dystocia often causes damage that affects the bones, nerves, muscles and ligaments of the shoulder.
Brachial plexus: The group of nerves the connect the shoulder to the arm and the hand.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI is available to children with birth injuries who qualify as disabled. Some conditions automatically qualify for SSI, while others must be evaluated under the formal SSI and similar state approval processes.
Medicaid: The medical insurance supplement may be available to a child who suffers harm during the birth process. Medicaid often works in conjunction with private insurance.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The ADA protections Americans of all ages who have a disability. Provisions of the act will assist a child who has a birth injury once he or she enters school or seeks employment, such as the requirement to provide reasonable accommodation for the disability.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): FMLA extends critical job protection to parents of a child who has suffered a birth injury and requires that employers allow a parent to retain his or her job while caring for the child or another family member.
Birth injury: Any injury suffered by a child during pregnancy, labor or post-delivery that is caused by the negligence of another person.
Preeclampsia: High blood pressure in pregnant women, usually suffered in the later part of the pregnancy. In some women, this condition can be very dangerous and both mom and baby should be carefully monitored.
Learn More About Your Options
The Birth Injury Team is a subsidiary of Silvers, Langsam & Weitzman, P.C., made up of experienced attorneys and medical professionals. Our lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience handling birth injury cases.
To discuss your child's birth injury with one of our professionals, contact our office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We serve clients across the United States.
