It’s unfortunate, but there are times when the actions of various medical professionals can lead to a baby suffering severe harm. Even worse, the injuries that your baby sustains can occur before or after birth, making it a bit more difficult to understand liability.
Because you deserve to be able to hold someone accountable should negligence cause your baby harm, we offer you some scenarios that may lead to a birth injury. Medical malpractice can arise before birth or after birth, meaning you must recognize the responsibilities of medical professionals and where they may fail, causing your baby to suffer injuries.
Medical Malpractice During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, it’s the responsibility of medical professionals to ensure that you and your baby are completely healthy throughout every term. This means taking the necessary steps to monitor your health, as well as your baby’s health and identifying any potential issues that may arise.
Typically, monitoring your pregnancy means the doctor should identify any maternal risk factors that may be present—such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Your medical professional should also be looking into your baby’s fetal heartrate.
An irregular heartbeat can indicate fetal distress, which comes in many forms of which you should be aware. One of the worst problems your child can experience during your pregnancy is a lack of oxygen. Whenever you have an umbilical cord issue or placental abruption, it can cause your baby to lose oxygen. The longer the oxygen loss, the more potential damage that can occur to your baby’s brain.
Medical Malpractice After Birth
As soon as your baby is born, he or she should receive immediate care to ensure his or her health is stabilized and there are no potential issues. If the medical professionals responsible for this care recognize a potential health concern, they must act quickly to remedy the issue. Taking too long to address a health issue can cause it to worsen, often resulting in long-term problems.
For instance, your baby may experience jaundice upon birth, which is a condition caused by too much bilirubin in your baby’s blood, causing his or her skin to have a yellow discoloration. This condition can lead to acute bilirubin encephalopathy, resulting in fever, difficulty walking, and listlessness. Jaundice must be treated quickly to prevent long-term problems.
In any situation, if medical professionals ignore clear signs of distress, they can be responsible for the harm your baby endures. This can include all physical and mental disabilities he or she sustains, lifelong care, and more.
Determining Who is Liable
Doctors, nurses, and other staff members may be liable in your baby suffering harm. In some situations, the medical facility may also be held accountable to a degree, depending on the circumstances of the issues that lead to the harm. It’s essential to work with legal counsel to better understand where issues may arise and how to take legal action.
At The Moore Law Firm, we understand the sensitive nature of this situation. We know if your baby experiences any kind of harm before, during or after birth, it can lead to a lifetime of complications. You need someone on your side working to help you obtain justice.
Our Cincinnati birth injury attorneys are committed to helping you through the most complex matters with you and your family in mind at all times. We’re ready to be your voice against negligence, going the extra mile to determine who is accountable and what your rights are to pursue compensation. Let us be in your corner when you need us most.
Call our firm today at (513) 232-2000 and speak with a member of our legal team in a free consultation to determine your options.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one as a result of another person's negligence, you deserve to be fully compensated for your losses. The simple fact is that you should not be forced to pay the price for another person's careless or reckless actions.