Many families are naturally filled with joy and anticipation when anticipating the birth of a new addition to the family. Unfortunately, complications during delivery can result in birth injuries that affect an infant’s eyesight.
Some newborns may develop vision impairments due to genetic predisposition or prenatal development issues. However, others can result from carelessness on the part of the healthcare provider during labor and delivery. Understanding how birth injuries can lead to vision loss—and when it may be considered medical malpractice—is critical for affected families.
Birth-related eye injuries
Suppose an infant sustains a birth injury during the birthing process; these injuries can affect various parts of the body, including the brain, facial nerves and eyes. When the trauma interferes with the infant’s optic nerve, retina or parts of the brain responsible for vision, it can result in partial or total blindness.
Medical malpractice and vision loss
Not every birth injury stems from malpractice—but when a healthcare practitioner fails to adhere to established standards of care and causes harm, legal responsibility may exist. Medical malpractice in birth injury cases might include:
- Overlooking fetal distress during labor
- Inadequate prenatal testing for infections or maternal conditions
- Unnecessary delay in performing an emergency C-section
- Mishandling of delivery assisting instruments like forceps or vacuum extractors
If a baby loses their vision due to such errors, parents may have grounds to file a malpractice lawsuit.
While some cases of infants losing their sight during delivery are unfortunate accidents, others may stem from preventable medical errors. Parents of a newborn who suspect medical negligence played a role in their child’s vision loss should enlist compassionate legal support to hold healthcare practitioners accountable. Taking legal action helps the family secure support and drive changes in care standards, potentially protecting future families from similar harm.