Birth Injury Attorney
Medical malpractice claims involving birth injuries are a complex. The plaintiff must demonstrate that the doctor was unable to provide reasonable medical treatment and thereby caused injury.
Expert witnesses are often brought in to prove that a doctor's treatment did not meet the accepted standards for their specialty. They must also present evidence that the child suffered compensable injuries.
Injury to the brachial plexus
The brachialplexus nerve network that extends from your spinal cord up to the arm and shoulder. A brachial injury could cause discomfort, weakness, or loss of motion in the hand, arm and shoulder. Some patients can recover function without treatment. Others may require occupational or physical therapy.
To check for fractures, X-rays of neck and shoulders are taken. MRI is also often used to determine the brachial plexus. The imaging test provides clear images of structures that are dense, such as bones with small amounts of radiation. The doctor could inject a color around the spinal cord to enhance the MRI images. The doctor will also likely request a computed tomography (CT) myelogram scan to check the vertebrae. This test is especially useful in finding spinal nerve avulsions.
A physical examination is the initial step in determining if your child suffers from an injury to the brachial area. The doctor will evaluate how the injured side feels, looks and functions with the non-injured. X-rays and electrodiagnostic tests can aid in confirming the diagnosis.
Some children who suffer from brachial plexus injuries heal themselves, but some require occupational or physical therapy. Patients who require therapy will be assessed by a team of specialists comprising a plastic surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, physiotherapist and physiotherapist.
The team will create the treatment plan that will work best for the patient. The treatment plan might involve stretching, exercises, and the placement of splinting, or surgery. It is essential that children with this condition seek out a specialist because it may take some time before the nerves recover.
A skilled Santa Fe birth injury lawyer can assist parents receive compensation for their child's medical treatment as well as future costs. They can work with medical professionals to collect the required documentation and file a lawsuit if appropriate. They will also bargain with hospitals and doctors to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for the family. Contact an experienced lawyer right away if your child is injured as a result of negligence during labor or birth.
Erb's Palsy
Erb's Palsy can be caused by negligence of a doctor in the delivery room. It is described as a result of damage to the upper brachial nerves. This can result in weakness or paralysis of the arm, and occasionally the hand. In many cases, fingers of the affected hand are sagging or in the "waiter’s tip" position. This means they are bent towards the body. The injury affects the shoulder, arm and elbow. The injury can cause numbness or discomfort in the hand and arm as well as difficulty moving them.
Most times the condition will heal on its own. If it doesn't improve after physiotherapy, the doctor may suggest surgery. This could involve tendon transfers, nerve grafts or a muscle repair surgery. The time to recover could last months or even years due to the fact that nerves grow and recover slowly.
You may make a claim if the medical professional's negligence resulted in your child's Erb palsy. A qualified attorney for Erb's palsy can assist you in determining whether your case is meritorious and advise you on the next steps to take. If a case has merit, an attorney can work to secure the financial compensation your child needs for his injury.
Children with Erb's palsy face expensive medical costs and out-of-pocket expenses. An experienced Erb's palsy lawyer can assist you in obtaining an equitable settlement to ensure that your children can receive the assistance and care they require today and in the future.
If your child has been diagnosed with Erb's Palsy and you are looking for a seasoned Santa birth injury lawyer. A skilled legal professional can assist you to know your legal rights and file a medical negligence lawsuit to get the financial compensation you're entitled to. To be successful in the case of a birth injury, a lawyer needs to establish that the condition of your child was caused by the care provider's negligence. This requires a thorough investigation of the facts, which is why it's crucial to choose an attorney that has experience with this type of case.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
HIE is when a newborn is deprived of oxygen during pregnancy, birth or immediately after birth. The condition can affect the brain, but also other organs such as the lungs, heart, and liver. HIE can cause irreparable, permanent damage to a child's long-term mental and physical health as well as their behavioral. It is one of the leading causes of infant mortality and permanent disability in the United States.
The severity of a case HIE depends on how long the brain was deprived of oxygen. Infants suffering from mild cases of HIE can recover completely and develop no disabilities, while those who suffer from severe or moderate cases are more likely to have long-term health issues. These include epilepsy and hearing or vision impairments.
HIE is often caused by problems during a birth, including uterine rupture, cord prolapse, placenta previa or the breech presentation. The risk of HIE can be minimized by a C section, however, doctors must perform it as fast as they can to prevent cutting off oxygen flow to the brain of the baby. Additionally, the use of the drugs that induce labor Pitocin and Cytotec could cause a risky complication known as hyperstimulation, which limits the flow of oxygen into the lungs of the baby.
Symptoms of HIE can be hard to identify, particularly during the first few hours following birth. A baby born with HIE could be floppy and insensitive to sounds or sights or extremely tense. They might be more sensitive to stimulation. A weak throat and mouth muscle can cause feeding problems. Other symptoms include an abnormally low Apgar score, presence of meconium in the umbilical cord fluid and abnormal fetal heart rate tracer.
phoenix birth injury attorney used treatment for HIE is therapeutic hypothermia also known as cooling therapy. It involves cooling the infant slowly down to temperatures of 92 degrees Fahrenheit over several days and then slowly warming them back up. It is important that HIE be diagnosed as soon as possible, so that the baby can receive this treatment. The cooling process decreases oxygen-rich brain blood and decreases toxins.
Asphyxia during birth
Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby doesn't get enough oxygen to their brain during or near the time of birth. This can be caused by many ways and can even be fatal. Birth asphyxia is most often caused by hypoxic-ischemic (HIE) which is a brain injury that can cause long-term disabilities like cerebral palsy.
HIE can be easily prevented by timely treatment. This includes therapeutic hypothermia that reduces the chance of dying or serious disability from 62-48 percent. This therapy must begin within six hours of birth. It can include total body cooling, support for fluids via drips and medications to treat blood pressure or seizures.
Hemorrhage, infection, and abnormalities in the placenta are the most typical causes of asphyxia at birth. Birth asphyxia can also be the result of negligence by a medical professional, which is why it is important to speak with an experienced attorney for birth injuries immediately if your child has suffered this kind of trauma.
Birth asphyxia can cause many different symptoms, based on intensity and duration of oxygen deprivation. This could include fatigue, poor muscle tone or breathing difficulties. In some instances babies can have serious neurological issues, such as seizures disorders as well as learning disabilities or developmental delays.
A Santa Fe birth injury attorney can help you determine if your child's condition is the result of an error in medicine and submit a claim to recover compensation against the negligent healthcare provider. You'll need to collect lots of evidence, including medical records and hospital notes, doctor's notes and other documents pertaining to the treatment of your child. The more information your attorney has, the more likely to prove that there was a mistake and receive compensation for your child's injuries.
Although it is avoidable, birth asphyxia is still the leading cause of infant deaths and serious impairments. The cause is the lack of oxygen to the brain and can cause a myriad of other complications like Erb's palsy, or HIE. Our lawyers can assist you to obtain the compensation you require to cover rehabilitation services and other costs.