Many atlanta birth injury lawyers injuries do not manifest symptoms immediately. This is particularly relevant for conditions like cerebral palsy that may appear after a child is born.
If you suspect that your child has suffered an injury to their birth it is imperative to act immediately. The earlier an attorney can review medical records, the better chances they have of preserving their authenticity and of ensuring a course of action before legal time limits expire.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain damage can be devastating for the entire family and may lead to physical and neurological disabilities that last for a lifetime. Some of the most serious birth injuries include the periventricular lukomalacia, intraventricular hemorrhage and anoxic brain injury and complete deficiency of oxygen. Mild to moderate damage to the brain may be a possibility.
The symptoms of a brain injury that is traumatic will vary from one child to the next. They can be cognitive, physical, or behavioral. Brain injuries that are severe are often accompanied by other birth injuries or medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, developmental delays, speech difficulties and low bone density and chronic respiratory problems.
The good news is that if your child’s traumatic brain injury was caused by the actions or inactions of a doctor nurse during labor and delivery there could be a claim for compensation. In fact, many families can seek financial compensation to pay for the costs of their child’s treatment and medical treatment.
A birth injury attorney can assist you in determining whether your child’s health issues were caused by a medical error which could have been prevented. If yes, Georgia medical malpractice litigation might be a possibility to cover your child’s costs.
To successfully file a lawsuit, you must be able to show that the medical professional violated their duty of care and caused the birth injury to your child. This involves showing that they did not follow the national standards and guidelines for doctors, midwives, and nurses.
Inducing a vaginal birth by using the medication Pitocin for instance causes contractions that push the mother’s abdomen to reduce blood flow to the baby. This can lead to HIE and brain damage as in addition to other serious birth injuries.
Your lawyer will make use of the medical records you provide to build a case for compensation against the responsible healthcare providers. In some cases the insurance of the responsible party could cover the medical expenses of your child. If not, an attorney can help you find other sources of funds to cover your child’s medical care and treatment. This is especially important if your baby suffered a serious birth injury or brain injury.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Also known as brain injury occurs when the baby’s brain isn’t receiving enough oxygen or blood flow during or shortly after the birth. It can cause permanent damage and result in developmental and cognitive disabilities, such as cerebral palsy.
HIE can also be caused by complications of labor and delivery, such as ruptured uterine ligaments or problems with the cord. It can also occur because a medical team fails to properly respond to symptoms of fetal distress.
The duration and severity of HIE is determined by how long the brain is deprived of oxygen and blood flow as well as the extent to which the tissues are damaged. Even short periods of time can result in serious injuries and severe HIE may lead to long-term complications.
HIE can cause sleep issues as well as crying, irritability and agitation, as well problems with limb movements. Seizures are also common in the first 24 hours following birth. The child may require breathing tubes. If a child has mild HIE symptoms typically, they will disappear within 24 hours.
If a doctor suspects a baby has HIE, they will typically request blood tests to assess the health of other organs, such as the kidneys, liver and lungs. They will also look for acid buildup in the cord blood of the umbilical cord, which could indicate that the child suffered from a lack of oxygen and blood flow prior to the birth.
If your child has been diagnosed with HIE and you believe it was caused by medical negligence, it is important to work with an experienced atlanta birth injury lawsuit hypoxic Ischemic 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 only charge contingent fees if they get you financial compensation. Contact an attorney immediately to determine if you are able to obtain the funds needed to care for your children.
Bleeding in the brain
A blood vessel can rupture during labor and birth, causing bleeding in the brain. This is a serious medical issue that puts newborns in danger of permanent damage, such as hypoxic-ischemic cerebral paralysis and hypoxic encephalopathy.
Fortunately, birth injuries triggered by brain bleeding are less frequent today than they were years ago. This is primarily due to advancements in prenatal diagnosis using ultrasound, the infrequent use of vacuum extractors and forceps during delivery, and doctors’ willingness to perform C-sections when they anticipate that a baby may be large or have difficulties during birth. But birth injuries still happen, and they can have devastating consequences for the baby and their family.
Hemorrhage in the brain is usually an indication of medical conditions such as coagulation problems or illness. It can also be triggered by a challenging or prolonged delivery. This is especially true when the mother has a high-risk pregnancy or has a C section.
Infants who suffer from a brain hemorrhage typically go to the neonatal intensive-care unit for imaging tests, monitoring, supportive care and fluids that are administered intravenously to ensure body function. Depending on the severity, they may not be able to move or breathe independently.
Brain damage that is localized is common, especially when it comes to injuries or infections such as meningitis. Widely distributed brain damage can lead to a variety of symptoms, including issues with development and movement.
Minor head injuries are usually characterized by swelling and bruising that occurs at or near the scalp or skull bone. Blood that accumulates above or below the thick fibrous layer of the skull bone (periosteum) is a more serious injury. These types of brain bleeding are more likely to happen when a physician uses forceps, vacuum extractors, or other delivery devices that assist in delivering medication.
Miller Weisbrod Olesky’s team experts in national birth injury law will help you determine if you have grounds to file a claim for compensation if an error by a doctor during the birth process that causes bleeding in the brain of your baby. We have the resources necessary to create a strong claim, and we’ll be determined to hold those accountable for your child’s injuries as well as ongoing treatment.
Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defects are problems with the walls of the heart or large blood vessels. About 1% of all live births suffer from these defects that affect the way that the heart pumps blood. Some are severe and require treatment immediately after birth. Others are less serious and are treated later in life.
Most common heart problems include holes in the walls of the lungs and problems with the valves which allow blood to pass from one side to the other. Certain heart issues are not severe and require treatment, however some may cause complications, such as a bad heart rhythm breathing issues or cyanosis. The severity of CHD can vary from very serious to mild.
Most forms of CHD are caused by abnormalities in the genes that regulate the way that the blood vessels and heart develop. Other causes include the exposure of the fetus or infections that can occur during pregnancy.
Newborns are screened for CHD through an easy test known as pulse oximetry, which is a method of measuring the amount of oxygen in the blood. If the test results show low levels of oxygen, further tests are needed to find out if there is a problem with the heart and blood vessels. These tests include heart catheterization, which involves the use of a thin tube to guide through a vein into the heart, and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart (MRI).
Many types of CHD are treatable by surgery or medicine. Some require treatment in the early weeks of life to avoid serious problems, such as cyanosis. Some require regular checkups with a specialist cardiologist who will examine the heart and blood vessels for any issues.
Transposition of the great vessels is a severe form of CHD, where two of the main arteries that supply oxygenated blood to your body are switched. This can be fatal within the first few weeks of life, should it not be treated promptly. Other serious forms of CHD are tetralogy of Fallot, where the opening in the wall which separates the lower and upper parts of the heart is too small to allow blood flow to normal levels, and ventricular septal defect, where a hole allows blood from the right ventricle to mix with oxygenated blood flowing to the lungs.