Eating or swallowing difficulties in infants can be caused by a variety of health conditions. This may include injuries to nerves and muscles in their upper body, as well as neurological injuries.
The following conditions may be connected to an eating or swallowing disorder in an infant:
- Cognitive disabilities
- Damage to the mouth or lips of the infant
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Breathing disorders
- Digestive issues
- Heart disease
- And more
Some eating or swallowing disorders can be caused by birth injuries or a missed diagnosis during the newborn’s formative development. In these cases, the medical staff may be held liable damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Warning Signs of Feeding Conditions
Warning signs of an eating or swallowing disorder can include drooling, pain or discomfort while feeding, frequently coughing up food, difficulty swallowing, and weight loss.
Further signs of swallowing issues in newborns can include:
- Feeding takes a great deal of time
- Persistent crying while eating or drinking
- Difficulty breathing while eating
- Frequently becoming fatigued while feeding
- And more
If you believe that your child is having difficulty eating or swallowing, you should take them to a doctor immediately. A doctor can evaluate your child to determine if there is an underlying condition causing their feeding problems, and give you information on how to keep your child safe.
Because eating and swallowing conditions can result in malnourishment and an inherent lack of key nutrients that children need to grow, a doctor may also wish to monitor your child’s development over time.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Some Eating or Swallowing Disorders Can Be Caused by Medical Malpractice
If your doctor diagnosis your infant with a medical condition related to their eating or swallowing disorder, such as cerebral palsy, you may want to investigate if medical malpractice was involved.
Medical malpractice can occur during prenatal care or delivery. For example, a negligent doctor may cause a child to develop a birth injury by:
- Failing to treat an infection in the pregnant mother
- Allowing the child’s oxygen supply to be cut off during delivery
- Injuring the child with excessive force during delivery
- Improperly using forceps or a vacuum extraction device to deliver the child
- Failing to take proper screenings and precautions to avoid a difficult delivery
Medical malpractice may also occur if a doctor misses a diagnosis after birth that allows a child’s condition to get worse while it goes untreated.
If doctor negligence injured your child, you may be able to recover compensation in a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit. This may require you to produce the testimony of a medical expert that the care your child received fell below a reasonable medical standard, and that if another doctor was acting the same situation, they would have taken different actions.
Damages in a Medical Malpractice Case
You may be eligible to recover both economic and non-economic damages in a medical malpractice case. Examples of these potentially recoverable damages can include, but may not be limited to:
- Your child’s past, current, and future medical expenses
- Lost wages for either parent that must stop working to care for the child
- Long-term cognitive or physical disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- And more
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group Can Help You Today
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group helps families nationwide defend their rights after medical malpractice harms their children.
When you partner with our firm, we can:
- Investigate your child’s injuries for evidence of malpractice
- Hire medical experts to examine your child’s treatment
- Collect evidence of the value of your damages
- Provide legal advice and design a strategy for your case
- Manage all communications and legal deadlines
- Negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company for a settlement offer
- Take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to make you a fair offer
We can also answer your questions and provide you with updates throughout this process so that you can dedicate your time and energy to your child’s wellbeing.
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group handles cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means that our clients to not pay us attorney fees unless and until they win their case and collect a settlement offer or court awards.
To get started with your free consultation, contact a representative at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529. Our team is standing by to discuss your child’s injuries, your legal options, and what we may be able to do to help.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."