What is a birth injury, and who may be held responsible for it?

The term birth injury brings to mind a scenario in which a newborn is harmed during delivery. While this is a plausible occurrence, it is not the only way that a birth injury can occur.

What constitutes a birth injury?

 Birth injuries actually fall into two classifications: birth injuries, and birth defects. Birth injuries happen during childbirth, and can occur as a result of negligence on the part of the doctor or the medical staff who are managing the delivery.

The injury may be the result of an act -- such as improperly using a medical device -- or an omission, like failing to undertake a cesarean section in a timely manner.