medical negligence solicitors in Dublin Archives

The birth of a child should be a joyful occasion, but for some families in Ireland, it can be overshadowed by trauma when medical errors lead to a birth injury. A birth injury is any harm caused to a baby or mother during pregnancy, labour, or delivery due to substandard medical care. These injuries can have lifelong consequences, affecting not only the child but the entire family.

If your baby or you have suffered a birth injury because of medical negligence, you may be entitled to bring a legal claim for compensation. Our specialist medical negligence team is here to guide you through this complex and emotional process.

What is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury can occur when medical professionals fail in their duty of care before, during, or after delivery. This may include errors in monitoring the baby’s heartbeat, failing to act quickly in cases of distress, improper use of forceps or vacuum delivery, or delays in performing a necessary caesarean section.

Birth injuries can vary from minor, temporary harm to severe, life-altering conditions requiring lifelong care.

Common Types of Birth Injuries

Some of the most serious birth injuries we see in medical negligence cases include:

Cerebral palsy – often linked to oxygen deprivation during delivery, leading to brain damage and long-term disability.
Erb’s palsy / Brachial plexus injury – damage to nerves controlling the arm and shoulder, potentially causing weakness or paralysis.
Fractures – such as a broken collarbone due to improper handling during delivery.
Facial nerve damage – typically caused by incorrect use of instruments like forceps.
Maternal injuries – such as severe tearing, bladder or bowel damage, or untreated infections.

How Do I Know If I Have a Birth Injury Claim?

Not all birth injuries result from negligence. Sometimes complications arise despite the best medical care. However, if errors were made that no competent professional would have made – and these caused harm – you may have a case.

Examples include:

Failure to monitor or respond to signs of fetal distress.
Delayed decision-making in emergency situations.
Incorrect use of medical equipment during delivery.

Our experienced solicitors will assess your case, review medical records, and work with independent medical experts to determine whether negligence occurred.

What Can Compensation Cover?

Birth injury compensation is intended to support your child’s and family’s future needs. A claim can help cover:

Medical and rehabilitation costs
Special care, aids, and equipment
Home adaptations
Ongoing therapy and support
Loss of earnings (where relevant)
Pain and suffering

How We Can Help

We understand that bringing a claim is not just about compensation – it’s about securing the best possible future for your child. We will:

Provide clear, compassionate advice.
Handle your claim with sensitivity and professionalism.
Work on a no-win, no-fee basis where appropriate.
Keep you informed every step of the way.

Our goal is to take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on your family.

Contact Us Today

If you are concerned that a birth injury was caused by medical negligence, contact our dedicated medical negligence team today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

📞 1800 246 442
📧 info@sweeneysolicitors.ie

Unnecessary Hip Dysplasia Surgeries on Children in Ireland: What Parents Need to Know and How to Seek Justice

Imagine being told your child needs surgery, trusting the specialists, going through the stress, the hospital visits, the recovery and then learning that surgery might not have been necessary at all.

That’s the painful reality now facing hundreds of families in Ireland, after a shocking audit revealed that many children may have undergone unjustified hip surgeries at two major hospitals between 2021 and 2023.

If your child was treated for hip dysplasia at Temple Street or Cappagh Hospital, this news may be deeply unsettling. You are not alone and you may have legal options.

What Happened: A Closer Look at the Hip Dysplasia Surgery Scandal

An internal review found that:

At Cappagh Hospital, 79% of surgeries reviewed did not meet the clinical criteria.
At Temple Street, the figure was 60%.
Over 1,800 children are now being contacted for medical reviews.

Many of these procedures involved osteotomies, surgeries where the bones of the hip are cut and realigned. These are major operations—ones that should only be carried out when absolutely necessary.

The Impact on Families: Real Lives, Real Consequences

As a parent, you place immense trust in medical professionals. To now learn that your child may have endured pain, fear, and physical trauma unnecessarily is devastating.

We’ve spoken with families who are:

Questioning whether they were fully informed
Wondering if their child now faces long-term complications
Struggling emotionally, mentally, and financially

You deserve answers. And more importantly—you may deserve justice.

What Is Medical Negligence?

Medical negligence happens when a healthcare provider fails in their duty of care and causes harm to a patient. In cases like this, it can include:

Performing surgeries that weren’t medically necessary
Failing to follow proper diagnostic guidelines
Not securing informed consent from parents
Causing long-term damage due to poor judgment

If any of these apply to your child’s situation, you may have the right to claim compensation.

What Can You Do as a Parent?

If your child had surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) between 2021 and 2023, you may be eligible to:

Request a full review of your child’s medical records
Get an independent medical opinion
Explore a medical negligence claim with a specialist solicitor

You don’t have to take this on alone. Our legal team is here to support you every step of the way.

Why Act Now?

In Ireland, there are strict time limits for taking legal action in medical negligence cases—especially those involving children. While exceptions exist, the sooner you seek legal advice, the stronger your case may be.

Even if you’re unsure whether negligence occurred, we can help you investigate it thoroughly.

How We Can Help You

At Sweeney Solicitors, we specialise in Medical Negligence and Child Injury Claims. We understand the sensitivity and emotional weight of these cases, and we’re here to listen, support, and take action on your behalf.

What You Can Expect:

✅ Free, no-obligation consultation
✅ Clear, compassionate legal advice
✅ Expertise in child injury and medical negligence claims

Take the First Step Toward Justice

You didn’t choose this situation—but you can choose how to respond. Let us help you make sense of what’s happened, and explore your legal rights with confidence.

📞 Call us now on Freephone 1800 246 442

📩 Email us at david@sweeneysolicitors.ie

💬 Click here to book a free consultation

You Are Not Alone

This scandal has shaken families and communities across the country. But through accountability, there can be healing. If your child was affected, we urge you to reach out.

We’ll listen. We’ll guide you. And we’ll fight for the justice your family deserves.

Tag Archive for: medical negligence solicitors in Dublin

Birth Injury Claims in Ireland: Your Rights and How We Can Help