Michigan Neonatal Malpractice Lawyer
Providing for Your Premature, Ill, or Injured Newborn
The medical specialty of neonatology involves the care and treatment provided to a newborn from the time of birth until the baby reaches 28 days of age. Following birth, newborns are very vulnerable to many conditions and medical issues that can place them at serious risk for permanent disability or death. A helpless newborn must rely entirely upon the neonatal team to provide for his or her health and safety. When a physician or nurse fails to act appropriately, either by failing to identify or treat neonatal problems, the nurse, doctor, or hospital may be held liable for compensation for any consequential harm suffered by the newborn.
The initial minutes following birth and shortly thereafter are critical moments when medical decisions may determine whether a newborn will be healthy or suffer from long term consequences. During labor and after the delivery, the neonatologist and neonatal nurses must be vigilant and carefully monitor the newborn for warning signs of potential complications. If there is any evidence that a newborn is in distress, the neonatal team must act promptly to prevent the newborn from experiencing injury or harm. Many instances of negligence and malpractice occur because the hospital or ward is understaffed, thus making it close to impossible to pay proper attention to each and every newborn in the neonatal unit. Other times, nurses have not received adequate training to recognize the signs and symptoms of an impending problem, thus missing a critical window of opportunity to prevent the newborn from becoming ill or permanently disabled.
Medical complications that commonly affect newborn babies include:
- Breathing problems or respiratory distress
- Infections acquired from the mother
- Circulatory problems caused of a repairable heart defect or great vessels leading to or from the heart
- Brain dysfunction caused by oxygen deficiency or perfusion to the brain (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy)
- Jaundice
Neonatal Malpractice in Michigan
We at Sommers Schwartz have successfully handled numerous neonatal malpractice claims. We have access to specially trained neonatologists and neonatal nurses who review all aspects of the neonatal care given to your child. If the proper care and support was not provided, we can identify the mistake and hold accountable those responsible for causing harm to your newborn child.
Contact a Michigan Neonatal Malpractice Lawyer at our firm for more information about how we can help you provide your child with the medical attention he or she deserves. |