The lawsuit claimed that the mother likely contracted a placental infection, the baby did not receive adequate oxygen to the brain, and the baby was not resuscitated properly.
The family said that the child, now three years old, will never be able to lead a normal life or care for herself. She has to be fed with a tube each day.
An important piece of evidence in the trial was the baby’s APGAR score. The scoring system is named after Dr. Virginia Apgar, the anesthesiologist who devised it in 1952. Infants are evaluated on five criteria, which are summarized in a backronym: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration.
In this case, the infant had a pulse when she was born, but she was not breathing. Neonatal resuscitation experts were not notified in time to prevent brain damage. At trial, forensic evidence was introduced that showed that the baby’s APGAR score had been changed in such a way as to make it appear that the hospital was not responsible for the child’s injury.
Failure to respond properly to a baby who is not breathing is just one type of medical malpractice that can lead to a birth injury lawsuit. Doctors and hospitals may also fail to detect infections in the mother or baby, misuse medical equipment, misread fetal monitors, or make medication errors.
Bob Briskman is a Chicago injury attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
The post Eight and a Half Million Dollars Awarded in Birth Injury Case first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>There are many reasons that oxygen deprivation at the time of birth may occur. As such, it is crucial that medical personnel are equipped to prevent asphyxia and when this is not possible, to identify and address the health crisis in a swift and capable manner. Correct diagnosis and treatment may, in some cases, help to lessen the negative effects of a lack of oxygen to the brain. Those who suspect that medical negligence could be responsible for the severe brain trauma during birth or birth asphyxiation may consult a Cleveland birth injury attorney.
Asphyxia – lack of oxygen – occurs when a baby’s brain or organs are deprived of the vital element during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or directly after birth. Cells require oxygen to function properly, and when there isn’t enough, waste products (like acids) can build up in the cells, causing damage. The damage may be temporary or long-term, and even permanent in some cases.
What can cause asphyxia? There are many potential causes to consider, including (but not limited to) physiological abnormalities or traumatic birth and medical error. Some of the factors in birth asphyxia may include:
Seattle Children’s Hospital, whose neonatalists conduct research into improving treatments for babies suffering asphyxia, reports that asphyxia may occur in about 4 out of 1,000 full-term deliveries and it may be more common in pre-mature births.
Quickly identifying and addressing the medical or physical causes of a lack of oxygen to the brain can have life-saving results. Medical providers, such as an obstetrician and delivery room staff, should be alert to the following signs that may indicate a lack of oxygen to the brain:
For precise treatment, doctors and hospital staff have numerous tools and tests that will assist in the diagnosis of asphyxia such as:
If proper protocol was not followed and it resulted in serious injury, aClevelandbirth injury attorney may discuss legal recourse with the parents.
Prompt treatment of birth asphyxia is instrumental in controlling the damage that can result from a lack of oxygen to the brain. The proper protocol will depend on the baby’s age, health, and overall condition. Among the possible courses of treatment are:
Failure to provide proper medical attention can be disastrous in such a scenario. Lack of oxygen to the brain may lead to brain injury or brain damage relating to birth trauma. The March of Dimes reports that five to 10 percent of cases of cerebral palsy are caused by birth injury, for example, including lack of oxygen to the brain during birth.
As such, birth asphyxia can be considered a costly and devastating birth injury, and one that may be caused (in some instances) by medical negligence or error in which case a Cleveland birth injury attorney can help parents recover compensation for damages.
A Cleveland birth injury attorney can analyze the details of your situation and help you determine if there is evidence of liability on behalf of a medical team related to a lack of oxygen to the brain that resulted in serious injury. In Cleveland, birth injury attorneys at Mellino Robenalt LLC can consult with parents who suspect medical negligence may have caused or contributed to their child’s injury related to birth asphyxia.
The post Birth Asphyxia and Brain Damage: How a Lack of Oxygen to the Brain Can Lead to Injury first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Asphyxia – lack of oxygen – occurs when a baby’s brain or organs are deprived of the vital element during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or directly after birth. Cells require oxygen to function properly, and when there isn’t enough, waste products (like acids) can build up in the cells, causing damage. The damage may be temporary or long-term, and even permanent in some cases.
What can cause asphyxia? There are many potential causes to consider, including (but not limited to) physiological abnormalities or traumatic birth and medical error. Some of the factors in birth asphyxia may include:
Seattle Children’s Hospital, whose neonatalists conduct research into improving treatments for babies suffering asphyxia, reports that asphyxia may occur in about 4 out of 1,000 full-term deliveries and it may be more common in pre-mature births.
Quickly identifying and addressing the medical or physical causes of a lack of oxygen to the brain can have life-saving results. Medical providers, such as an obstetrician and delivery room staff, should be alert to the following signs that may indicate a lack of oxygen to the brain:
For precise treatment, doctors and hospital staff have numerous tools and tests that will assist in the diagnosis of asphyxia such as:
If proper protocol was not followed and it resulted in serious injury, aClevelandbirth injury attorney may discuss legal recourse with the parents.
Prompt treatment of birth asphyxia is instrumental in controlling the damage that can result from a lack of oxygen to the brain. The proper protocol will depend on the baby’s age, health, and overall condition. Among the possible courses of treatment are:
Failure to provide proper medical attention can be disastrous in such a scenario. Lack of oxygen to the brain may lead to brain injury or brain damage relating to birth trauma. The March of Dimes reports that five to 10 percent of cases of cerebral palsy are caused by birth injury, for example, including lack of oxygen to the brain during birth.
As such, birth asphyxia can be considered a costly and devastating birth injury, and one that may be caused (in some instances) by medical negligence or error in which case a Cleveland birth injury attorney can help parents recover compensation for damages.
If you have questions or concerns, we welcome you to contact our Cleveland office today for a free consultation. You may also download or request attorney Chris Mellino‘s free guide to filing a claim in Ohio.
The post Birth Asphyxia and Brain Damage: How Oxygen Deprivation Can Lead to Injury first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>At the same time, not all birth injuries are caused by medical negligence. Some are just part of what can be a difficult birthing process. A Cleveland, Ohio medical malpractice attorney can help determine if it might have been preventable and if the medical care provided was unreasonable.
The APGAR is a test performed immediately after birth to assess:
Each category gets a 0, 1, or 2. Babies with lower scores may require further testing or monitoring or a medical diagnosis may reveal a mild to serious medical condition requiring treatment.
An assessment of physical injuries may be one the primary ways to diagnose a birth injury, though in some cases it may not be enough to reach a medical diagnosis on its own; further testing may be required.
For instance, forceps or vacuum extraction might be used if there are difficulties during delivery. Minor bruising or marks may not be a major problem, but swelling may indicate injuries like cephalhematoma, which is bleeding between the skull and the periosteum.
The swelling itself may be a physical indication of the condition which may not require treatment, but some severe cases may lead to jaundice if not treated, so blood tests may be performed to monitor bilirubin levels.
Some conditions, such as those pertaining to the brain, may require medical imaging to give the physician an image of the brain. Cerebral palsy, for example, may require imaging techniques such as MRI, CT scans, or ultrasounds. These imaging techniques allow the physician to examine potential areas of damage or development that may indicate cerebral palsy or other conditions.
Parents whose child has been diagnosed with a birth injury may consult a Cleveland, Ohio medical malpractice attorney to discuss a suspected case of negligence on behalf of a doctor. A lawyer will examine whether the doctor may have caused the injury itself, contributed to it, or failed to act in a manner that may have prevented complications.
A medical expert may be called upon for help evaluating the standard of care given the particular scenario that may have led to a birth injury. If the doctor is found to have failed to act with a reasonable standard of care, he or she may be considered negligent and the Cleveland, Ohio medical malpractice attorney may help file a claim.
Some examples in which a doctor may be considered negligent are:
Contact the Cleveland, Ohio medical malpractice attorneys at Mellino Robenalt LLC to discuss a potential claim if a medical diagnosis reveals a birth injury you suspect is related to negligence.
The post How is a birth injury medically diagnosed? first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>While some post-delivery birth injuries cannot be reliably anticipated – such as those owing to genetic mutations – many injuries can be effectively treated or prevented with careful medical attention. A neonatal birth injury can have a lifelong impact on a child and his or her family so it’s important to understand the circumstances involved. Medical malpractice lawyers in Ohio can provide assistance to families affected by serious injuries they suspect can be attributed to medical malpractice.
Some of the issues that medical personnel should be alert to after delivery include:
Newborn Health Conditions
Newborn health conditions can lead to neonatal birth injury. Listed below are some of the health conditions and factors that may lead to long-term injury:
If any of the above conditions or factors were left undiagnosed or untreated, an infant may be at risk for suffering a neonatal birth injury with possible short- or long-term effects. In this case, parents may discuss the details with medical malpractice lawyers in Ohio to evaluate whether they have a case, and for help determining liability for injuries.
The prevention of post-delivery injury begins in the pregnancy stage with careful assessment and monitoring of the expectant mother. That level of care should continue throughout labor and delivery and after the baby is born. A newborn ‘s health should be tended to with great vigilance and attention to detail.
The staff that is charged with the infant’s well being should have the experience and training necessary to be able to identify potential risk factors in a timely manner and should be equipped to address any crisis which may arise. Risk of neonatal birth injury may be reduced if the newborn’s health is given due diligence.
In cases where a postnatal injury does occur and medical negligence or medical errors are suspected, parents can discuss liability for the injuries with medical malpractice lawyers in Ohio. Some of the parties that can be found liable include:
In situations where a newborn’s health condition has led to injury, it may be difficult to determine if liability is an issue or whether the injury was essentially “impossible” to prevent. In almost all cases where there is some uncertainty, it will be necessary to get a thorough review of the process by an objective party with a strong knowledge of birth injury. The medical expert may be able to assess the situation and help to determine if medical negligence or medical malpractice were deciding factors in a neonatal injury.
Families may be affected by birth injuries well into the future. These injuries or medical conditions can have a lifelong impact that can bring with it significant medical bills and other expenses. Parents may seek the input of medical malpractice lawyers in Ohio if in doubt regarding the cause of a serious birth injury.
A lawyer can analyze the details of the case to help determine whether evidence exists that a medical professional was liable in providing care to the newborn. Medical malpractice lawyers in Ohio at Mellino Robenalt LLC can provide consultation with parents affected by neonatal birth injuries.
The post Neonatal Birth Injury: How Postnatal Medical Negligence Can Cause Birth Injuries and Trauma first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>