Birth Injury Attorney
Birth injuries are a complicated area of medical malpractice. The plaintiff must prove that a physician violated their duty to provide reasonable medical care and resulted in injury.
Expert witnesses are often brought in to establish that the doctor's treatment was not in accordance with accepted standards for their speciality. They must also prove that the child suffered damages that are compensable.
Brachial plexus injury
The brachialplexus is a nerve network that extends from your spinal cord up to the shoulder and arm. Symptoms of a brachial plexus injury can include pain, weakness or loss of mobility in the shoulder, hand and arm. Some patients recover without treatment. Others may require occupational or physical therapy.
X-rays can be taken from the shoulders, neck and arms to look for fractures in the bone. MRI is often used to evaluate the brachial plexus. This imaging test creates clear pictures of structures that are dense such as bones with small amounts of radiation. The provider could inject a color around the spinal cord to enhance the MRI images. The doctor can also request a CT myelogram scan to examine the vertebrae. This test is especially useful in the detection of spinal nerve avulsions.
A physical exam is the first step in determining if your child is suffering from a brachial plexus injury. The doctor will evaluate how the injured side is feeling, looks and functions with the non-injured. X-rays or electrodiagnostic testing can confirm the diagnosis.
Certain children who have injuries to their brachial plexus will recover spontaneously. Others may require occupational or physical therapy. Patients who require therapy will be evaluated by a team of specialists, comprising a plastic surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, physiotherapist and physiotherapist.
The team will create a treatment plan that works best for the patient. The treatment plan might involve stretches, exercises and placing, splinting or surgery. It is crucial that children suffering from this condition consult a doctor as it may take some time for nerves to recover.
An experienced Santa-Fe birth injury lawyer can help parents receive reimbursement for their child's therapy, medical care and future expenses. They can work with medical professionals to collect the necessary documents and file a lawsuit if needed. They can also bargain with doctors and hospitals to secure the highest compensation possible for the family. If your child suffers injuries due to negligence during labor or delivery, contact an experienced lawyer as soon as you can.
Erb's Palsy
Erb's palsy may be caused by negligence of a doctor in the delivery room. It is defined as a result of damage to the upper brachial nerves. This causes weakness or paralysis of the arm and occasionally, the hand. In many instances the fingers of the affected arm will slide downwards or be in what's known as the "waiter's tip" position, meaning that they are bent towards the body. The injury affects the shoulder, arm and elbow. The symptoms of the condition include difficulty moving the arm and/or hand and numbness or tingling sensations in the hand, as well as the inability to bend the elbow or lift the arm away from the body.
In most cases, the condition resolves by itself without treatment. If the condition doesn't improve after physiotherapy, then your doctor might recommend surgery. This could involve tendon transfers, nerve grafts, or muscle repair surgery. Nerves grow and heal slow, and the time to recover can be months or even years.
If the medical team's negligence caused your child's Erb's Palsy and you want to file a birth injury lawsuit. A qualified Erb's palsy attorney will help you determine if your case has merit and help you decide on the next steps you should take. An attorney can help you get financial compensation if your case is legitimate.
Children with Erb's palsy face expensive health care costs as well as out-of-pocket expenses. A qualified Erb’s palsy attorney can help you win an equitable settlement so your children get the care and support they need today and in the near future.
Contact an experienced santa-fe birth injury lawyer if your child is diagnosed with Erb's palsy. A skilled legal professional can help you learn about your legal rights and file a medical malpractice lawsuit to obtain the financial compensation you're entitled to. In order to be successful in the case of a birth injury, a lawyer needs to establish that the condition of your child was the result of the care provider's negligence. This requires a thorough analysis of the facts. That is why it's important to choose an attorney who is familiar with this type of case.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
HIE occurs when a baby is deficient in oxygen during pregnancy, labor/delivery or right after birth. The condition can affect the brain, as well as other organs such as the lungs, heart and liver. HIE can cause irreparable, permanent damage to the child's mental, physical and behavioral functioning. It is the leading cause of infant mortality and permanent disability in the United States.
new port richey birth injury attorney of a case of HIE is determined by how long the brain was deprived of oxygen. Infants who have mild cases of HIE can recover completely and have no impairments, while those who suffer from moderate or severe cases are more likely to experience permanent health issues. These problems include epilepsy and hearing or vision impairments.
HIE can be caused by birth issues such as uterine ruptures cord prolapses, placentas previas or breech presentations. The risk of HIE can be minimized by a C section, but doctors must perform it as fast as they can in order to avoid cutting off oxygen flow to the baby's brain. Additionally, the use of the labor induction drugs Pitocin and Cytotec can cause a dangerous condition known as hyperstimulation which can block the flow of oxygen to the lungs of the baby.
The symptoms of HIE are difficult to recognize, especially in the initial hours following birth. A baby with HIE might be floppy, unresponsive to sounds or sights, or they could become very tense. They might also be more responsive to stimulation. A weak mouth and throat muscle can cause feeding problems. Other signs include an abnormally low Apgar score, presence of meconium in the umbilical cord fluid and abnormal fetal heart rate tracer.
The most commonly used treatment for HIE is therapeutic cooling, also referred to as hypothermia. This involves gradually cooling a newborn to around 92 degrees Fahrenheit over several days, before slowly warming them. It is essential that HIE is detected as early as possible to allow the baby to receive this treatment. The cooling process decreases amount of oxygen-rich blood flowing through the brain and decreases the release of toxins.
Asphyxia at birth
Birth asphyxia is when a baby's brain isn't getting sufficient oxygen during or shortly after the birth. It can be caused by a range of conditions or circumstances, and may be fatal in extreme cases. Most often the result of birth asphyxia is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) which is a brain injury that can lead to long-term issues such as cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
HIE can be prevented through prompt treatment. This includes therapeutic hypothermia which reduces the risk of death or serious disability to 62-48%. The therapy should begin within six hours following the birth. It can include whole-body cooling, fluid support through a drip and medication to treat seizures or blood pressure.
Hemorrhage, infection, and placental anomalies are the most typical causes of asphyxia in the birth. Birth asphyxia can be the result of negligence by medical professionals this is why it's important to contact an experienced attorney for birth injuries right away when your child has suffered this type of trauma.
Birth asphyxia can cause a wide range of symptoms, based on the intensity and duration of oxygen deprivation. These symptoms can include lack of energy, poor muscle tone, or breathing problems. In certain cases babies may have serious neurological issues, like seizures or learning disabilities.
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 have to gather many documents, including medical records, hospital notes as well as doctor's notes and other documents related to the treatment of your child. The more information your attorney has, the easier to prove negligence and get compensation for your child's injuries.
Despite being prevented, birth asphyxia still a leading cause of infant deaths as well as serious impairments. The cause is a lack of oxygen to the brain, and can cause various other complications like Erb's palsy, or HIE. Our attorneys can help you obtain the compensation you require to pay for rehabilitative services and other expenses.