NEONATAL MALPRACTICE LAWYER
THE DUTY OF CARE IS VERY HIGH
Nobody is more vulnerable than a newborn baby, so there is an expectation that physicians and nurse’s caring for them will do so with the utmost diligence. When a doctor or nurse fails to use the proper standard of care or fails to properly identify and treat neonatal problems, the doctor, nurse, and hospital can be held liable for the injuries to the child. A neonatal malpractice lawyer can represent you in an action to collect compensation.
The minutes immediately following a birth are crucial, as decisions may need to be made that may determine whether the baby will grow up healthy or suffer from a serious long-term disability. That’s why an attending neonatologist or pediatrician must vigilantly monitor your baby so that any warning signs for complications can be acted on immediately. If a baby is in distress, the response must be prompt.
WHY MISTAKES USUALLY HAPPEN
Today’s hospitals are budget conscious and sometimes understaffed, making it difficult to give each newborn in a neonatal unit the proper attention. Another problem is when pediatricians that are not trained in neonatal care are responsible for the unit and do not know how to give the proper care. Nurse’s without proper training can overlook the symptoms of an impending critical problem, so it is not treated as soon as possible, causing serious permanent injuries. A neonatal malpractice lawyer can investigate the circumstances and determine whether malpractice has occurred.
SOME NEONATAL ISSUES TO LOOK OUT FOR
One of the most serious problems are breathing issues or respiratory distress that might require immediate oxygen or even intubation. Infections acquired from the mother may require intravenous antibiotics before the infection induces a high fever. Circulatory problems that may be caused by a heart problem that requires immediate surgery. Brain dysfunction caused by a deficiency of oxygen or a brain perfusion must be treated immediately. Jaundice, while not as severe, will benefit from rapid treatment as well.
- Breathing problems or respiratory distress that require oxygen and/or intubation
- Infections acquired from the mother
- Circulatory problems caused of a repairable heart defect or great vessel leading to or from the heart
- Brain dysfunction caused by oxygen deficiency or perfusion to the brain (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy)
- Jaundice
If you suspect that your child has been a victim of neonatal malpractice, you owe it to yourself to investigate. Call neonatal malpractice lawyer Wittenstein & Wittenstein for a free consultation. We’ve been helping injured people for over 60 years, and we look forward to serving your family.
NEONATAL MALPRACTICE LAWYER
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