Perinatal insult is a brain injury that occurs either immediately before or after the birth of a baby. If a baby experiences a lack of blood flow or oxygen to their brain in the time leading up to birth, it may suffer from perinatal insult. Similarly, if a baby sustains brain damage immediately following its exit from the birth canal, then this also constitutes a perinatal insult.
Perinatal insult often results in brain damage that can cause a variety of complications both during the birth process and well into the future. In some cases, a brain injury that occurs during birth leads to lifelong developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy. As the medical journal Neurobiology of Disease points out, perinatal insult can also cause seizures during and after birth.
While a lack of blood flow may be responsible for perinatal insult, forceful impacts can also cause a perinatal insult. If a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional bumps your baby’s head or drops it after it exits the birth canal, then the baby may suffer perinatal insult and brain damage. Victims of such acts of medical malpractice have the right to pursue justice and compensation.
A lawyer who focuses on birth injuries such as perinatal insults can work with you to build a case that defends your legal rights. In addition to gathering evidence and establishing a liable party, a birth injury lawyer will handle all correspondence with any other parties that were involved in the injury of you or your child. A lawyer will interpret federal, state, and local laws as he or she aims to negotiate a settlement. They will account for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other recoverable damages as they pursue any forms of financial compensation to which you may be entitled.
Causes of Perinatal Insult
Carelessness and negligence are often responsible for perinatal insult and infant brain damage. When medical professionals fail to communicate with one another properly, they risk causing damage to both a baby and its mother. Distraction and wavering attention can cause a medical professional to make a crucial mistake during the birth process, leading to ongoing troubles resulting from infant brain damage.
Medical malpractice may also manifest in the misuse of medical tools and equipment. In these cases, a nurse or doctor may be unfamiliar with the specific operational guidelines of a new piece of equipment. Sometimes the manufacturer may share some responsibility if it failed to label its medical device properly.
In their pursuit of answers and justice, a legal team will investigate these issues and others as it seeks to establish a liable party. In some cases, blame may fall to a single doctor, whereas in other cases the healthcare facility as a whole may be responsible for an act of medical malpractice. Whatever the outcome, a lawyer who focuses on birth injuries can stand up to defend your rights.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Treatment Options for Perinatal Insult
Perinatal insults vary in their severity. Therefore, parents and legal guardians have many different treatment options. In some cases, immediate medical intervention is needed to sustain vital functions. Other forms of brain damage may require years of evaluation and specialized therapy. Widespread developmental disabilities that can result from infant brain damage, such as cerebral palsy, often benefit from a greater wealth of treatment options. Still, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) points out that cerebral palsy occurs in about 3 out of 1,000 children in the United States. Despite measures already in place to reduce this risk, there is a demonstrable need for better preventive protocols.
Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer Today
If you are dealing with the aftermath of a perinatal insult to your baby, then it can be tough to handle the various legal and financial details associated with this process. Perinatal insults often cause emotional and mental trauma that can make it even more difficult to move on. A lawyer who focuses on birth injuries such as perinatal insults will stand by your side to pursue justice on your behalf.
Speaking to other parties involved in an incident often proves to be emotionally distressing. A lawyer can handle all of these communications so you can focus on recovering from your pain. Birth injury lawyers will also work to establish a liable party and fight for any forms of financial compensation for which you may be eligible. Pick up the phone and call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation.
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