New York Forceps Delivery Medical Malpractice

Our New York City attorneys at Rich & Rich P.C. help clients recover compensation in a number of different types of medical malpractice cases. Forceps delivery done improperly, under the wrong circumstances or by an inexperienced physician can result in significant birth injury. We help parents stand up for their rights to recover damages for their child and hold responsible parties accountable.

What is a forceps delivery and when is it appropriate?

During a difficult labor, when doctors cannot easily pull out the baby to assist with delivery, they may use forceps, which are metal tong-like instruments that help ease the baby through the birth canal. The National Vital Statistics Report indicates that forceps or vacuum deliveries are done in only about 4.5 percent of U.S. vaginal births.

Doctors use a forceps delivery or vacuum extractor delivery when facing many of the same types of labor conditions, such as:

  • Mother is unable to push because of fatigue or a health condition
  • Baby is a prolonged second stage of labor
  • Fetal distress requires a faster delivery

Forceps deliveries gone wrong

Inexperienced or inattentive doctors can fail to notice that the mother's cervix is not fully dilated, that the baby is not in the second stage of labor, the baby’s head is too large to pass through the mother’s pelvis or that the mother experienced a uterine rupture. A uterine rupture is when a weakened area of the uterus, usually containing scar tissue from a previous C-section, tears open. Standard medical practices would prevent a doctor from performing a forceps delivery under these conditions.

Potential injuries for the mother and baby

Both the mother and baby can suffer injuries when a forceps delivery diverges from accepted medical standards. Potential injuries for the mother can include:

  • Vaginal lacerations
  • Cervical lacerations
  • Excessive blood loss
  • Bladder injury
  • Injuries to the anus
  • Bowel incontinence

Babies can suffer from many of the same injuries that occur with vacuum extractor injuries, including:

  • Cephalohematoma
  • Brachial palsy
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Skull fractures
  • Facial nerve damage
  • Brain hemorrhage
  • Head or facial bruising or lacerations

Rely on our experience

When you or your baby suffered as a result of your doctor’s medical negligence, our New York attorneys at Rich & Rich, P.C. can help you seek justice. Our firm has a reputation for taking on medical malpractice lawsuits. We have the wherewithal, the access to medical experts and the ability to assess injury damages so clients can receive fair compensation. We offer a free consultation to discuss your forceps delivery and how we can help.

Don’t wait. Contact Birth Injury Attorneys In New York City at Rich & Rich, P.C. today

We are conveniently located in Manhattan at

1430 Broadway, Suite 1802, New York, NY  10018

Call 646-736-3999