Infant Birth Injuries Due To Epidurals
While epidurals used during birth labor are utilized and intended to reduce maternal pain, they are not without risks. Some of these risks affect babies in addition to mothers and surrogates. For example, epidurals may cause prolonged labor,1 and while rare, this in turn may result in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in an infant, a form of brain dysfunction caused by a decrease or lack of oxygen or blood flow to the infant’s brain.2,3 HIE can be recognized by a variety of symptoms, including breathing problems, distorted muscle tone, a lack of common reflexes, and seizures, among other things.2 It can occur at any time before birth, after birth, or during labor and delivery. In some cases, infant birth injuries due to epidurals are due to medical malpractice negligence.
Infant birth injuries due to epidurals caused by medical malpractice negligence can result in disabilities, permanent injuries, or even death. Caring for an infant with a birth injury due to an epidural may require therapy, medications, and injury specific treatments. From medical tests to specialized care and beyond, both short-term and long-terms costs for infant birth injuries due to epidurals can be high.
Parents whose newborns are victims of infant birth injuries due to epidurals often seek legal help. In provable medical malpractice negligence cases of infant birth injuries due to epidurals, fair compensation is an essential part of a legal settlement. Long-term cost increases for required items, medications, and services must be considered and calculated into a settlement.
Selecting an expert birth injury lawyer or legal team is essential to help victims ensure justice and fair compensation. Noted South Florida Lawyer Richard “Bo” Sharp, Esq. and Mallard & Sharp, P.A.’s goal is to obtain justice for individuals and families who are victims of birth injury medical malpractice negligence, especially when such malpractice occurs during labor and delivery.
The professional legal team at Mallard & Sharp, P.A. is dedicated to providing their clients with the path to justice and financial recovery. The firm handles detailed cases that involve birth injuries, medical malpractice, and negligent security, as well as any other acts of negligence that cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
For more information or to inquire about hiring expert legal representation for a potential birth injury medical malpractice negligence case, including those involving infant birth injuries due to epidurals, contact Mallard & Sharp, P.A. at 305-461-4800.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4308552/
2 https://www.massgeneral.org/children/hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy
3 https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/birth-asphyxia/