How are birth defects different from birth injuries?

The key differences between birth defects and birth injuries are their cause and when they happen. See their comparison below to get a better understanding of their differences:

When they occur

• Birth injury: Birth injuries may occur anytime between before and after labor and delivery.
• Birth defect: The development of congenital disabilities occurs during pregnancy. The CDC states that birth defects usually happen within the first trimester of pregnancy. At the time of birth, the defects are already present.

Why they happen

• Birth injury: The cause of birth injuries varies per case. It may be due to complications during delivery, medical malpractice or negligence, lack of training of the medical staff, improper use of delivery tools, prolonged delivery, or other medical errors and complications.
• Birth defect: In most cases, the causes of birth defects are unknown. However, research suggests that there is a genetic, environmental, or chemical factor that may result in congenital disabilities.

Furthermore, birth injuries are more preventable than birth defects. Birth injuries may easily be avoided with proper medical attention and well-trained physicians. On the other hand, many birth defects are unavoidable as there may be a genetic factor that causes the defect.

Seek legal guidance for filing your birth injury claim

Do you believe that your child’s medical condition was caused by a completely preventable error during childbirth? If so, you may qualify to file a birth injury claim. Contact The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary for a free consultation regarding your case. We are open to answering any questions you have about birth injury claims and are ready to lend a helping hand to assist you in filing your birth injury claim.