Shoulder Dystocia

In a complex legal battle involving North Shore University Hospital and associated medical professionals, a family sought justice for alleged medical malpractice during childbirth in 2016. The lawsuit accused the healthcare providers of negligence that reportedly led to severe birth injuries, including Erb’s Palsy.

Erb’s palsy is a form of brachial plexus palsy that occurs when the nerves in a baby’s upper arm are injured. It often happens during difficult childbirths or deliveries involving excessive pulling on the shoulders during a head-first delivery, or pressure on the baby’s raised arms during a breech delivery. In New York, as in many places, Erb’s palsy remains one of the most common birth injuries. This condition can result in weakness or loss of motion in the affected arm, and while some babies recover over months with physical therapy, others may require surgery to regain full function.

Background Facts

The case centers around the medical decisions made by doctors at St. Barnabas Hospital and their associated OB/GYN practice and shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia is a birth complication where the baby’s shoulders get stuck inside the mother’s pelvis after the head has been delivered. This can occur during vaginal birth and requires immediate medical intervention to prevent injury to both the mother and the baby. The condition poses risks such as damage to the baby’s brachial plexus nerves, which can lead to a condition known as Erb’s palsy, characterized by weakness or paralysis of the arm. Managing shoulder dystocia often involves specific maneuvers by the delivering practitioner to safely release the baby’s shoulders and complete the birth.

Background Facts

On July 2, 2011, the plaintiff, a 35-year-old woman who was 38 weeks pregnant and had a history of giving birth to large babies, presented to St. Barnabas Hospital (SBH) following a spontaneous rupture of membranes. She had previously delivered three children weighing between 8 lbs 8 oz and 12 lbs 8 oz. Due to her history and current pregnancy conditions, she was considered at a potentially higher risk for complications during delivery. During the early hours of July 3, 2011, Dr. Michael Ihemaguba, the on-call obstetrician at SBH, assessed the plaintiff. After conducting a series of evaluations, including maneuvers to estimate the baby’s size and position and a standard Shoulder Dystocia Assessment, Dr. Ihemaguba concluded that the plaintiff did not exhibit any of the four risk factors typically associated with shoulder dystocia, a condition where the baby’s shoulders become lodged inside the mother’s pelvis, hindering delivery. At the end of his shift at 8:00 a.m., Dr. Ihemaguba transferred care to Dr. Rodney Capiro, providing him with all pertinent information about the patient’s condition and the assessments conducted. This handover was critical in the continuity of care and the subsequent medical decisions made during the delivery process. The baby suffered multiple injuries at birth, including a shoulder dystocia that resulted in a permanent brachial plexus injury known as Erb’s palsy.

Articles Posted in Shoulder Dystocia

Erb’s Palsy claim against doctors moves forward in court. N.R. v. Northwell Health, Inc. 2023 N.Y. Slip Op. 50123 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2023)

Lawsuit concerning Erb’s palsy and episiotomy complications during labor. J. G. v. Michael Ihemaguba, M.D. 2016 N.Y. Slip Op. 30899 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2016)