Many of the signs of birth trauma aren’t immediately evident. This is especially true for conditions like cerebral palsy, which can be present after a child is born.
It is crucial to act swiftly if suspect that your child has suffered from a birth injury. If a lawyer is able to examine medical documents, they has a greater chance of conserving the authenticity of the documents and determining if an action plan is feasible before the legal deadline runs out.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain damage during childbirth can be devastating for families and lead to lifelong physical and neurological impairments. Some of the most severe birth injuries are periventricular leukomalacia or intraventricular hemorrhage. They can also be a cause of anoxic brain injury (complete absence of oxygen). Mild to moderate brain damage may be a possibility.
The signs of brain injuries traumatic to the brain differ from child to child. They could be cognitive, physical, or behavioral. A serious brain injury is usually associated with other medical or birth injuries such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, speech issues, low bone density, and chronic respiratory issues.
The good news is that if your child’s brain injury was the result of the actions or inactions of a doctor nurse during labor and delivery and delivery, you could have an opportunity to pursue compensation. Many families can receive financial compensation for their child’s treatment and care.
A birth injury lawyer can assist you to determine whether your child’s symptoms are the result of an error birth injury Atlanta in medicine that could be prevented. If so then you could pursue a Georgia medical malpractice lawsuit could be an option to help cover the costs of your child’s care.
You must show that the medical professional acted in violation of their duty of care and caused your child’s birth injury in order for the procedure to be successful. This requires proving that they failed to follow national standards and guidelines pertaining to OB-GYN doctors, midwives and nurses.
For example, inducing a vaginal delivery with the medication Pitocin can trigger contractions that compress the uterus of the mother and decrease the flow of blood to her baby, which can lead to HIE and brain damage and other serious birth injuries.
The medical records you give to your lawyer for birth injuries will assist in establishing a case against the responsible healthcare provider(s). In some cases an insurance policy of the responsible party could pay for medical expenses for your child. If not an attorney can assist you locate additional sources of funding for your child’s healthcare and treatment. This is especially important if your child has suffered from a severe brain injury or other long-term birth injuries.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury that happens when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen and blood flow at or near the time of birth. It can result in permanent damage, which includes developmental and cognitive impairments such as cerebral palsy.
HIE can be caused by labor-related complications and delivery that disrupt the blood supply to the brain, for example, tear in the uterus or issues with the umbilical cord. It can also occur when medical personnel fail to properly respond to the signs of stress on the fetus.
The severity and duration of HIE depend on the amount of time that the brain is deprived of oxygen and blood and the extent of damage to tissues. Even a short period of time could cause serious injuries, and severe HIE could lead to long-term complications.
HIE can cause poor sleep, irritability and crying, and also problems with the movement of limbs. Seizures can also occur within the first 24 hours after birth, and the baby may need breathing tubes. If a child is suffering from mild HIE symptoms typically, they will disappear within 24 hours.
If a doctor suspects a newborn suffers from HIE and is concerned, he’ll order tests for blood to assess the condition of other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. He may also order tests for the heart, lungs and the heart. They also check for the presence of acid in the umbilical cord blood, which can be a sign that the child was suffering from a shortage of oxygen and blood flow prior to the birth.
If your child is diagnosed with HIE and you believe it was the result of negligence on the part of a medical professional it is essential to consult with an experienced atlanta birth injury lawyer hypoxic encephalopathy lawyer. These lawyers can help you gather the evidence required to show that HIE in your child was preventable and that your family is entitled to compensation. They are based on contingent fees which means that they only collect money if they are successful in obtaining financial compensation for you. Contact an attorney right away to determine if you can obtain the funds needed to provide for your children.
Bleeding in the Brain
Brain bleeding can be caused when a blood vessel is ruptured during labor and delivery. This is a serious medical problem that can put newborns at risk of severe and Birth Injury Atlanta long-lasting damage, including hypoxic-ischemic brain cerebral palsy and encephalopathy.
Fortunately, the frequency of birth injuries caused by bleeding in the brain is lower today than it was a few decades ago. This is primarily because of advances in prenatal assessment using ultrasound, the infrequent use of forceps and vacuum extractors during birth and the willingness of doctors to perform C-sections if they anticipate that a baby may be large or have difficulties during birth. Birth injuries still occur, and can cause devastating consequences on the child and family.
Hemorrhage of the brain is often a sign that there are underlying medical conditions, such as coagulation issues or illness. It could also occur by a difficult or prolonged delivery. This is especially true when the mother has had high-risk pregnancies or a C-section.
Infants who suffer from brain hemorrhage are typically admitted to the neonatal intensive unit where they undergo imaging tests, monitoring and supportive care. Fluids are also administered intravenously in order to keep the body functioning. They might not be able to move or have difficulty breathing independently, based on the extent of their injury.
Localized damage to the brain is common, particularly in cases of trauma or infections like meningitis. Brain damage that is distributed widely can result in a wide array of symptoms, such as issues with movement and developmental delays.
A minor head injury is characterized by swelling or bruising at or near the skull or scalp. More serious injuries are characterized by an accumulated amount of blood either below or above the skull bone’s fibrous layer (periosteum). These types of brainbleeds are more likely to occur when a doctor employs a vacuum extractor forceps, or other birthing devices.
If a mistake made by a doctor during delivery causes a brainbleed in your baby, the expert team of national birth injury attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky can help you determine if there is a basis to claim financial compensation. We have the resources to help you build a strong case and we’ll do our best to hold the accountable parties accountable for their part in the child’s injury and ongoing needs.
Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defects are problems with the inner walls of the heart or with large blood vessels. About 1% of all live births have these defects, which affect the way in which the heart circulates blood. Some are very serious and require intervention as soon as they are born. Others are less serious and can be treated later.
The most common heart issues are holes in the lungs’ walls and issues with the valves which allow blood to flow from one side to the other. Some heart problems are not severe and require treatment, while others may cause complications, such as a bad heart rhythm breathing problems or cyanosis. The severity of CHD can range from severe to mild.
The majority of cases of CHD are caused by alterations in the genes that regulate the way that the blood vessels and heart develop. Other causes are the exposure of the fetus in pregnancy to certain infections or medications.
Newborns are tested for CHD with an easy test known as pulse oximetry, which is a method of measuring the amount of oxygen that is present in the blood. If the test shows low levels of oxygen, additional tests are required to find out if there is an issue with the heart or blood vessels. These tests include the procedure of a catheterization (a thin tube that is guided through a vein to the heart) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart.
Many kinds of CHD can be corrected by surgery or medication. Certain CHDs must be treated within the first few weeks to prevent serious complications like cyanosis. Some require regular checks with a specialist cardiologist who will monitor the heart and blood vessels for any signs of trouble.
Transposition of the great vessels is a severe type of CHD, where two of the major arteries that supply oxygenated blood to your body are switched. This can be fatal within the first few weeks of life, in the event that it is not treated promptly. Other severe types of CHD are tetralogy of Fallot in which the hole in the wall that separates the lower and upper parts of the heart is too small to allow normal blood flow, and ventricular septal defect, where a hole allows blood from the right ventricle to mix with the oxygenated blood flowing to the lungs.