A common cause of Erb’s palsy in newborns is medical negligence. This refers to a medical practitioner’s failure to adhere to the applicable standard of care when treating a patient. Obstetrician or gynecologist malpractice during labor and delivery, for example, could inflict serious harm on an infant. Any act or omission that a reasonable and prudent doctor would not have made under similar circumstances can constitute medical negligence.
A common example is a negligent or reckless response to shoulder dystocia during a complicated delivery. If a doctor fails to promptly and correctly respond to this situation, it could result in serious harm to the infant’s brachial plexus. Pulling the baby’s head or neck sideways, pulling the baby’s shoulders, putting too much pressure on the baby’s arm, or pulling on the baby’s feet during a breech delivery could all cause Erb’s palsy. The child’s shoulder, arm or neck could also sustain additional injuries, such as shoulder dislocation or a clavicle fracture.