If you are a parent, you can understand the exhilarating feeling that comes with a child’s birth. However, that day may quickly change to the scariest if things go wrong during labor and delivery. Medical personnel often take all reasonable measures to prevent birth injuries during labor and delivery.
There are instances when a medical professional’s negligence causes harm to a child, and birth asphyxia is one such injury. It causes shallow breathing, sluggish heartbeat, and even convulsions if the infant doesn’t get adequate oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Our birth injury lawyers can help you fight back against negligent medical professionals.
Defining Birth Asphyxia
Asphyxia during birth occurs when a baby’s body and brain don’t get enough oxygen or blood before, during, or after delivery. Asphyxia at birth (or perinatal) affects around 15.1% of newborns. During childbirth, doctors, midwives, and nurses may lessen the probability of fetal hypoxia by monitoring the baby’s heart rate.
Fetal distress or unsatisfactory fetal condition are some names your doctor may use to describe birth asphyxia. To prevent serious complications for the newborn after delivery, your doctor should closely monitor the signs of fetal distress and determine the underlying reason, which may include birth asphyxia, if applicable. During delivery, doctors and nurses must watch the mother and baby and step in if they see anything amiss.
To ensure the safety of both mother and child, physicians may choose a C-section or other kind of assisted delivery. The medical personnel may be held responsible for any difficulties arising from their failure to monitor the mother and infant properly or to provide treatment immediately.
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What Are Risk Factors Associated with Birth Asphyxia?
Your child’s health may suffer short- or long-term due to birth asphyxia. The symptoms may emerge immediately after birth or a little later. Symptoms in the affected child may include developmental issues in the brain, such as the inability to roll over, sit up, speak, or grasp objects.
If the doctor observes any indications of hypoxia during the birth, they must opt to intervene and administer treatment. Birth asphyxia can lead to long-term health risks, including:
- Blindness
- Cerebral palsy is a motor disability that may lead to muscle weakness or stiffness.
- Seizures
- Dyslexia (difficulty reading),
- Dyscalculia (difficulty understanding numbers and mathematics)
- Apraxia (difficulty communicating)
Babies with birth asphyxia and other birth injuries may sometimes make a complete recovery. However, the kid and their family may face additional challenges due to the numerous serious consequences of birth asphyxia.
What Should You Do if Your Baby Suffers from Asphyxia?
Asphyxia at delivery is a leading cause of birth injuries, but there are steps you can take to safeguard your child and get compensation for their damage.
- Get a medical diagnosis. To discover the possible issues your kid may suffer, you must get your baby treated and diagnosed by an expert.
- Get your infant into early intervention so you can help them through any problems they may be having. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are examples of modalities that may be used in early intervention.
- You might be eligible for financial compensation, the amount of which will be clarified by consulting with an attorney.
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Is Financial Compensation Available in Birth Asphyxia Cases?
Most cases of birth asphyxia include a fetus displaying obvious indications of respiratory distress during delivery, but these may go unrecognized, or medical professionals may fail to intervene in time.
If this happens, you may file a claim for damages after such an incident. Consult a birth injury attorney as quickly as possible to determine the next step and whether you have a case for financial compensation.
Types of Damages You Can Seek
Damages of many kinds may be recovered in a medical malpractice case. You may be eligible for the following compensation:
- Economic damages
- Your child’s past and future medical costs resulting from their injuries
- Paid time off and other earnings
- The cost of a funeral
- Impairment to quality of life
- Hurt on a physical level
- Feelings of unease
- Reduced quality of life
A high emotional and financial cost is associated with your child’s birth asphyxia diagnosis. You may be able to seek financial compensation for your suffering by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
It’s important to note that the compensation you may seek in a medical negligence case may vary based on your home state. To begin your legal journey, you must identify who is at fault for your misery.
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Who Is Liable for Birth Asphyxia Injuries?
- The medical professional who did not keep a close eye on your unborn child throughout pregnancy is at fault.
- The medical professional wasn’t keeping a close enough eye throughout the birth and didn’t step in when it was needed.
- The facility where the birth accident happened, especially if medical staff negligence was the root cause of the damage.
- The second doctor did nothing when you began displaying indications of pregnancy difficulties.
- Those involved in your baby’s postnatal care (doctor, RT, nurse) who botched the job
How Can a Birth Asphyxia Attorney at Birth Injury Lawyers Group Help?
Our compassionate lawyers clearly understand your state and are willing to help you get justice for the wrong done to your baby. We focus on birth injury cases that might be invaluable if you wish to take legal action after a traumatic delivery.
Birth Injury Lawyers Group has a proven record of success as a law firm, having recovered millions of dollars in damages for families devastated by medical mistakes. Our lawyers will assist you with gathering the proof you’ll need to back up your case.
We will also assist you with negotiating with the hospital and the insurance company and standing up for what’s best for you, your family, and your rights under the law. Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Let our experts take care of your legal proceedings while you focus on being the caregiver for your newborn and the mother.
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