After Reporting Birth Injury Mother Is Investigated

One of the worst things a mother can experience is a birth injury that harms a newborn child. One of the other worst things for a mother is to be falsely investigated for child abuse. For a woman in Michigan, these two things happened hand-in-hand.

Doctors Did Not Listen to Mother’s Complaints

Kiara Doom gave birth to her daughter Aryn at the ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital in Monroe, Michigan. After birth, the mother, also a former labor and delivery nurse, noticed her daughter was turning purple. The mother was also concerned that one arm was not moving and the collar bone was swollen and bruised. 

The mother complained to the nurses and asked for an X-ray but she was told everything was fine and sent home. The mother of 3 knew everything was not fine and something was wrong. After being discharged, she took her newborn to the pediatrician. An X-ray showed a clear fracture in the clavicle. 

Upset with the lack of care she’d received, the mother went back to the OB unit at the hospital. She went to speak to the manager of the unit, pointing out that her daughter did have a broken bone and that they should educate themselves so that no one else has to go through this. Later that night, Child Protective Services showed up at her house.   

Investigation for Alleged Child Abuse

A CPS investigation required an ER visit. The CPS investigation found “no preponderance,” of any child abuse. However, the newborn’s medical records now show, “alleged child abuse.” 

The mother wants these allegations of abuse removed from her daughter’s medical records. “If she falls off the slide in a year, two years…I don’t want them to think that I’m harmful to my child,” said the mother, “because that’s the picture that’s been painted.” 

Clavicle Fractures During Birth

One of the most common bone fractures that occur during birth is a clavicle fracture. The clavicle, also known as the collarbone, can fracture when there is difficulty delivering the baby’s shoulder through the birth canal. This is more common with large birth weight babies.

Clavicular fractures generally heal without any problems. Signs of a fracture may include the baby not moving the arm or holding the arm bent in front of the chest. Treatment may include keeping the infant’s arm and shoulder still for several days, using a sling or pinning the infant’s sleeve.

Birth Injuries and Medical Malpractice

When a birth injury is caused by a doctor’s negligence or mistake, the injured child and suffering parents deserve compensation. Some birth injuries that occur during delivery are caused by a doctor failing to take the proper steps to minimize trauma to the mother and unborn infant. 

The birth injury lawyers at Gilman & Bedigian strive to represent victims of birth injuries throughout the U.S. The legal team won a record-breaking $55 million verdict in Maryland for a birth injury victim against Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Contact the birth injury lawyers at Gilman & Bedigian online to get started on your case.