Premature Birth Infant Birth Injury: Lungs
Premature birth (also referred to as preterm birth) can wreak havoc on the health of both mothers and babies. In fact, a time frame of infant delivery even one week early has the potential to create serious complications for both the mother and baby.1,2 This includes incomplete development of an infant’s lungs, or lung damage.
While numerous vital organs, including a baby’s brain, have the potential to be damaged or not fully develop when a premature birth occurs, the lungs may develop what is known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or BPD, a chronic lung disease in which the air sacs (called alveoli) do not develop properly.3 The medical problems that result can be lifelong. BPD is estimated to affect approximately 10,000 to 15,000 babies in the U.S. every year.4 It can be caused by mechanical ventilation and infections, among other things.
In some instances, premature birth infant birth injuries that affect a baby’s lungs are due to doctor error. Failure to properly monitor maternal or fetal health, for example, may result in premature birth. In such a case, a doctor may be liable for medical malpractice negligence in the form of a premature birth infant birth injury, a maternal birth injury, or both.
Obstetricians and other medical professionals or entities may be liable in provable cases of premature birth infant birth injuries, and there may in fact be dual liability in which more than one medical professional or entity is liable.
In addition to the physical and emotional devastation of a premature birth infant birth injury are monetary compensation issues. When settlements in such medical malpractice birth injuries are being deliberated, considerations for potential future needs and expenses must be taken into account. Costs for an array of needs, including oxygen, breathing support systems, preventive vaccines, medical equipment, surgeries, specialists, home care, specialty medications, and other vital necessities, can be extensive and can create further devastation in the form of monetary inadequacy for victims and families of premature birth infant birth injuries who have sustained lung injuries.
Choosing an expert birth-injury lawyer or legal team in these and similar cases is an essential step, not only to help ensure justice, but also to secure fair, inclusive compensation for all likely or known future health needs. 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 in instances in which such malpractice occurs during labor and delivery. This includes cases involving long-term birth injuries and premature infant medical malpractice birth injuries.
Mallard & Sharp, P.A. is dedicated to providing every client with the path to justice and financial recovery. The firm is noted for handling critical legal cases that involve birth injuries, medical malpractice negligence, and negligent security, as well as any other acts of negligence that cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death to individuals.
For more information or to inquire about obtaining expert legal representation for a potential birth injury medical malpractice negligence case, including one involving a Premature Birth Infant Birth Injury, contact Mallard & Sharp, P.A. at 305-461-4800.
1 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(22)00228-9/fulltext
2 https://www.vbac.com/2010/11/elective-inductions-cesareans-and-preterm-birth/#.Y8_jcXbMK5c
3 https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/infant-chronic-lung-disease
4 https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/bronchopulmonary-dysplasia-bpd