Birth Injury :: Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog

Home > Birth Injury

September 18, 2008

Birth injury spotlight: what are symptoms of Erb’s palsy

In general, there are four types of nerve injuries common in birth injuries.
1. A stretch injury that “shocks” but does not tear the nerve. Normally, these heal on their own.
2. A stretch injury that damages some of the nerve fibers may result in scar tissue. This is called “neuroma.” Some, but not total, recovery usually occurs.
3. A stretch injury that causes the nerve to be torn apart. This will not heal on its own.
4. An “avulsion.” This happens when the nerve is torn from the spinal cord. It may be possible to restore some function by using a nerve from another muscle as a donor.
For more information.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birth Injury , Injuries to Minors and Children

| Share

September 17, 2008

Birth injury spotlight: how does Erb’s palsy occur?

Brachial plexus stretch injuries in newborns usually occurs during a difficult delivery. This birth injury can occur with a large baby, a breech presentation, or a prolonged labor. It may also occur when the person assisting the delivery delivers the baby quickly and uses force to pull the baby from the birth canal. This happened in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by Levin & Perconti regarding the negligent delivery of the baby.

Often in this birth injury, the upper nerves are affected. The infant may not be able to move the arm, but may be able to move the fingers. If both the upper and lower nerves are stretched, the condition is usually more severe than Erb’s palsy. This is called “global” brachial plexus birth palsy.

For more information.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birth Injury , Injuries to Minors and Children

| Share

September 16, 2008

Birth injury spotlight: more information about Erb’s palsy

Erb’s palsy is a birth injury that one or two of every 1,000 have. Most infants with brachial plexus birth palsy will recover movement and feeling in the affected arm. However, parents have to be watchful and participate in the treatment process to ensure maximum functional recovery.

For more information.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birth Injury , Injuries to Minors and Children

| Share

January 18, 2008

Levin & Perconti tops the list of 2008 Super Injury Lawyers

Levin and Perconti has been honored in Chicago Magazine's 2008 Illinois Super Lawyers Edition. Both John Perconti and Steve Levin were named Super Lawyers as Plaintiff's Personal Injury Lawyers. The pair have been honored for the last four years as two of Chicago's best Injury Lawyers.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birth Injury , Current Issues , Fire Safety , Levin & Perconti in the Community

| Share

December 14, 2007

Insurance Companies to Rate Your Doctor

What is the best way to measure a doctor’s competency? A new program in New York will allow major insurance companies to rate doctors in the same way restaurants and movies are rated. Naturally, the health insurance industry is concerned about costs and will likely base its ratings primarily on the cost of care. The New York program does require the health insurance providers also utilize national standards and guidelines to rate doctors. The natural focus on cost, which is the reality in any business, begs the question whether the size and number of medical malpractice settlements and verdicts will factor into the ratings system.

For a recent editorial on the plan click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birth Injury , Current Issues , Medical Malpractice , Nursing Home Abuse , Veteran hospitals , Wrongful Death

| Share

December 14, 2007

Medical Ethics and Practices

Since it is assumed lawyers are unethical, ethics is an integral part of the law school curriculum. By the time law students graduate from law school they are keenly aware that not reporting unethical behavior is itself a breach of the ethical duty all lawyers have. I do not know whether that is true for doctors as well. A new study published on December 4, 2007, in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests there is a disconnect between doctors’ own ethics and their practices. The disconnect may be the result of fear of malpractice lawsuits, but that fear is not the concern of injured patients, injured patients’ families, or malpractice lawyers. The disconnect should be the concern of medical malpractice insurance carriers who should be seeking to uncover doctors who violate standards of care. The medical malpractice insurers’ best hope is doctors reporting doctors.

For an article discussing the study click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birth Injury , Current Issues , Injuries to Minors and Children , Medical Malpractice , Nursing Home Abuse , Wrongful Death

| Share

Contact Us

Disclaimer

The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.