North Carolina Birth Asphyxia Lawyers
What to Do If Your Child’s Brain Injury Was Caused by Negligence
Birth asphyxia, or infant oxygen deprivation, is an incredibly serious birth injury that could potentially be prevented. When an infant does not receive an adequate supply of oxygen just before, during, or immediately following birth, he or she can suffer severe brain damage and other injuries.
Delivery room doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have a duty of care to identify and promptly address signs of infant oxygen deprivation and/or fetal distress. When they fail to do so, they can be held liable for the resulting injuries, complications, and, in some tragic cases, deaths.
If you went through a difficult labor or delivery and you believe your child’s resulting injuries, illness, or death was the result of medical negligence, contact the North Carolina birth asphyxia lawyers at Lanier Law Group.
We offer compassionate, personalized legal guidance tailored to your unique situation and the needs of your family. Our attorneys are aggressive in their pursuit of fair compensation for children and parents affected by careless and negligent healthcare providers and facilities.
What Risk Factors Are Associated with Birth Asphyxia?
Doctors and other medical professionals are trained in and should be aware of the risk factors and signs of birth asphyxia. It is their responsibility to act quickly when these symptoms arise to limit the risk of injury and/or death.
Some of the common risk factors associated with birth asphyxia include:
- Prolonged labor
- Delayed/failure to order a cesarean section
- Abnormal maternal blood pressure (high or low)
- Low maternal oxygen levels in blood
- Maternal respiratory problems
- Placental abruption (separation of placenta from uterus)
- Issues with the umbilical cord, including compression
- Late birth (past 42 weeks)
- Lack of sufficient blood flow to the infant
Other Important Signs to Monitor
Additionally, after a child is born, attending medical staff is responsible for monitoring the infant for signs of:
- Anemia
- Low blood pressure
- Shock
- Respiratory problems
- Poor oxygen intake
- Heart disease
- Lung problems
- And other issues that can all lead to asphyxia
How Negligence Leads to Birth Asphyxia
As previously mentioned, medical professionals are required to monitor the infant throughout the entire labor and delivery process, as well as after the baby is born. Failure to notice or address signs of fetal distress is considered negligence.
Birth asphyxia may have resulted from medical negligence if doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals:
- Failed to monitor the infant’s heart rate
- Did not notice signs of fetal distress
- Did not react to signs of fetal distress quickly
- Failed to order an emergency C-section
- Used defective fetal monitoring equipment
Note that these are just some examples of how negligence can lead to birth asphyxia. If you suspect your child was injured as a result of your doctor or another medical professional’s improper care, reach out to Lanier Law Group today.
Fighting for You & Your Family
Birth asphyxia can lead to an array of debilitating conditions, including brain damage, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), developmental delays, learning disabilities, and more. As a parent, you want to provide your child with the best possible treatment and care so that he or she can live as normal and happy a life as possible.
Fighting for You & Your Family
At Lanier Law Group, we understand that this can be incredibly difficult with the cost of ongoing—and sometimes lifelong—care. Our goal is to help you secure maximum compensation and hold the negligent party/parties accountable for your child’s injuries.
We offer free initial consultations, as well as contingency fees, so there are no upfront costs for you and you only owe attorneys’ fees if and when we successfully recover compensation for you. With multiple office locations throughout the state, our firm stands ready to fight for you and your child.
