Experienced Legal Advocacy for Philadelphia Families Managing Birth Asphyxia Injuries
Birth asphyxia generally occurs during labor when the infant doesn’t get enough oxygen to their brain. While relatively common, this situation is also an emergency that requires immediate action.
If left untreated, birth asphyxia can cause serious injuries, developmental delays, and even death. According to the medical journal Frontiers in Pediatrics, birth asphyxia causes 30-35% of neonatal deaths.
According to the Center for American Progress, the risk of fatality goes up for black women with the rate of infant deaths due to birth injury double that of infants born to white mothers.
How We Can Help
Navigating life after a devastating birth injury can be difficult. You may not know where to go to get the resources you need or what steps to take to get the right kind of help.
Our experienced Philadelphia birth asphyxia attorneys can provide the guidance and support your family needs during this unbearable time.
Why Work with the Cochran Law Firm
When your family is grieving after your child is injured or killed as a result of a physician’s negligence during labor, you need aggressive legal support from an experienced Philadelphia birth asphyxia attorney.
At The Cochran Law Firm, we understand the sensitive nature of your case and can help you cut through the red tape to get the justice your family deserves.
The Cochran Law Firm will investigate every aspect of your case and fight for the full and fair compensation your family deserves after a birth asphyxia injury.
How Does Birth Asphyxia Occur?
There are several causes of birth asphyxia, many of which are preventable. However, those that can’t be anticipated should be resolved as quickly as possible to prevent damage to delicate brain tissue from a lack of oxygen.
The most common reasons neonatal asphyxia occurs include the following:
Administering Too Much Pitocin during Labor
Doctors may give a mother too much medication to help make their labor faster, making it harder for the baby to circulate oxygenated blood.
Umbilical Cord Obstruction
Babies whose umbilical cords are compressed or wrapped around their neck may get less oxygenated blood to the brain before birth.
Preeclampsia
When a mother’s blood pressure is very high, this can compress the baby’s own circulation and make it difficult for the baby to get oxygen and nutrients.
Delayed Delivery or Cesarean Section
If the baby’s blood supply is cut off before it can breathe outside air for too long, it can asphyxiate. A cesarean section must be performed if the mother can’t push the baby out during labor.
If it is not done promptly, it could result in serious injury to the baby. For example, this often happens in shoulder dystocia cases where the baby’s shoulder is stuck behind the mother’s pelvis.
In many cases, the medical professional’s quick action allows the baby to recover completely. However, in cases where doctors and nurses fail to act, the consequences can be dire.
Effects of Birth Asphyxia
The effects of not getting enough oxygen during the birthing process can be far reaching. You may not even know that your baby is experiencing low oxygen. Symptoms of asphyxia include but aren’t limited to:
- Low Apgar score after birth
- Listlessness
- Skin discoloration
- Poor blood circulation
- Lack of urination
- Mental and cognitive impairment
- Motor impairment
- Speech and learning disabilities
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Seizure disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Death.
The consequences of birth asphyxia range in severity depending on how low your baby’s oxygen was, how long it was low, and how quickly it received the correct treatment.
Liability and Compensation for Birth Asphyxia Injuries in Philadelphia
Doctors and hospitals owe their patients a duty of care to treat them with dignity and provide them with the appropriate medical care.
Patients suffer when a medical professional fails to act with reasonable care according to industry best practices and Pennsylvania state law.
Many parents are told their child’s injuries are par for the course or an unpreventable accident that no one could foresee or do anything about. Unfortunately, in most cases, this isn’t true.
With proper care, most birth emergencies can be prevented and resolved without harming the child or mother.
If your child has been injured during labor due to a physician’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person liable.
The Cochran Law Firm will help you identify the responsible parties for your child’s birth injury and advocate for restitution for your family’s suffering.
FAQs about Birth Asphyxia Lawsuits
How Do I Know if My Baby Didn’t Get Enough Oxygen at Birth?
Signs of asphyxia after birth include pale or blue skin, weak reflexes and muscle tone, lethargy, and a slow heart rate. In older children, birth asphyxia may result in:
- Difficulty meeting developmental milestones
- Epilepsy
- Hearing and vision problems
- Behavioral disorders.
How Do I Know If My Doctor Is Responsible for My Child’s Birth Injury?
If your doctor was negligent in your care during the birth of your child, they may have caused their injuries. This includes:
- Failure to monitor the mother and infant for distress during labor
- Improperly handling birth complications
- Being slow to perform an emergency cesarean section
How Can I File a Claim with a Philadelphia Birth Asphyxia Lawyer?
When you hire an attorney, they will start by sending a demand letter to the at-fault parties that states:
- What happened
- The injuries these actions caused to your child
- The monetary damages your family incurred as a result
Your lawyer will then attempt to negotiate a settlement agreement. If this isn’t possible, your attorney will represent you in court.
Get the Legal Help Your Family Needs After a Devastating Birth Injury by Calling Our Qualified Philadelphia Birth Asphyxia Attorneys
If your child suffered asphyxiation during birth and your family has incurred financial and emotional damages as a result, don’t wait to get legal support.
You could be eligible to collect compensation from the doctor or hospital at fault, which can help pay for any ongoing medical treatment your child might need.
Contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation appointment with our veteran Philadelphia birth injury attorneys to discuss the details of your case.
We have the skills and experience needed to zealously advocate for your family’s rights and best interests under Pennsylvania tort law. Call now by dialing (800) 969-4400.