San Francisco, CA medical malpractice attorney Nathaniel Leeds discusses some common errors leading to birth injuries. He explains that the most common mistake in birth injury cases is waiting too long to act. There is a safe and widely available method for delivering a child in the event of complications: a C-section. When doctors recognize signs of fetal distress, the appropriate course of action is to promptly switch to a C-section to prevent harm. Ideally, birth injuries should not occur because the warning signs can be detected, and timely intervention can avoid serious outcomes.

However, he notes that there is often a preference for vaginal delivery, shared by both parents and physicians. This preference can sometimes lead to delays, even when distress is evident. Such delays can deprive the baby of oxygen, resulting in brain injuries if a C-section is not performed quickly enough.