Many birth injuries that negatively impact babies occur in the course of the actual delivery. In some cases, attending physicians may fail to take note of a drop in the baby's heart rate indicating that it is not receiving enough oxygen. In other cases, the decision to forego a Caesarian section results in injuries to the baby's shoulder that results in a disability. There are other ways in which a birth injury could occur in hospitals throughout the Pittsburgh area such as when a mother suffers particular infections.

The mother of a baby born less than a year ago in another state is seeking monetary compensation for the damage an untreated infection reportedly inflicted upon her child. The woman filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital where the child was born alleging the medical providers at the hospital did not test the woman for the infection during her pregnancy. The woman claims she had an undiagnosed case of Group Strep B which caused her daughter to suffer brain damage. The condition will reportedly make it impossible for the baby to ever do the following things: Talk Walk Work Think Enjoy life According to the complaint the girl's condition will result in medical costs in the tens of millions of dollars. The woman is seeking more than $150,000 in damages. She is also asking for costs. As any parent can imagine welcoming a baby with serious disabilities is heartbreaking. While obtaining monetary damages from those responsible for the disability will never undo that heartbreak, it may provide some comfort in knowing that there will be money to ensure the girl can be properly taken care of.

Source: The Madison-St. Clair Record, "Med mal suit claims treatment of brain-damaged child will cost tens of millions," Kelly Holleran, April 25, 2013