The number one most cherished treasures for every parent is always their child or children. Children are always the single cause of happiness of every parent and also signify the birth of a new family. But babies are also incredibly vulnerable, plus equally fragile. And this is always the main reason why most children are prone to accidents and injuries. And you will sometimes find that even the doctors make mistakes.
This is also one of the main reasons why parents always need to be alert and aware of any and all of these issues that can occur in the medical institutions and protect their babies from them. This article will attempt to discuss with you some four common birth injuries that can result from medical negligence and hence make you look for a medical malpractice lawyer.
1. Birth injuries
One way that a birth injury can occur is when the physician or hospital nurse tasked with the work to care for the newly born child only provides substandard care during or even in the birthing process. Some severe cases that have been handled by a number of medical malpractice lawyer Toronto, you may end up having a child with devastating effects like brain damage, paralysis and in extreme cases, death might even occur where the mother or the child could be the victim or even both.
2. Retinopathy of prematurity
There are some cases where premature babies may end up developing abnormal blood vessels around the retina, which causes it to detach which can even lead to blindness. This injury is sometime self-correcting. However, there are some cases where surgery has to be undergone to correct the defect. In case a nurse of physician detects ROP after birth, then an ophthalmologist can prevent the abnormal growth, contraction, scarring or detachment of the blood vessels of the retina using a laser.
Newborns can contract ROP when they are exposed to toxins, improper use of oxygen therapy after birth, etc.
3. Medication errors
In some cases, you find that the doctor or nurse prescribes the wrong dosage or medication for the newly born child. In such situations, the parent has the right to sue the doctor and file a claim, provided there is substantial evidence to prove the case. The parent also has the right to confront the nurse or the doctor who has applied the medication to his/her child if he/she thinks that the wrong medication or dosage was administered to his/her child. At this point, your main concern should be the health of your baby; not even the malpractice suit.
Studies have also found that at least one death occurs each day as a result of prescription medication errors and about 1.3 million people fall victim to the same annually in the U.S. alone.
4. Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Also known as NEC. This is a gastrointestinal disease which is known to affect premature infants the most where the inflammation and infection causes a destruction of part of the bowel or the whole bowel. It is known to occur in most premature infants; mostly during the first two weeks after birth, after feeding has begun. Infants are delicate beings during this period and are more prone to infections. Plus, they also have difficulty with digestion, blood, and even oxygen circulation.
Some of the common symptoms of NEC may include lack of stool, bloody stool, poor tolerance to feedings, increase in stool, bile-colored vomit, etc.
