When negligence or malpractice cause your child to be born with a birth defect, you may be able to file a claim against the doctor or hospital. Call our medical malpractice and birth defect lawyer to find out if you are entitled to collect monetary damages.
Everyone expects that doctors and nurses know how to take care of our illnesses, treat or conditions and respond to emergencies. And they should. But they are human beings, and they can make mistakes. Mistakes can lead to dire consequences when they are related to pregnancy and birth. Congenital disabilities can change the course of a child’s life physically and emotionally and can devastate a family. If mistakes are the result of negligence and they cause a baby to be born with a birth defect, there may be grounds for a legal claim. If malpractice causes your child to suffer, you might be able to collect an award for monetary damages.
If your child was born with a birth defect that may have been caused by negligence of a hospital, doctor, nurse or another healthcare professional, consider contacting our medical malpractice lawyer Alonso Krangle, LLP.
How Does Medical Malpractice During Pregnancy Cause Birth Defects?
Medical malpractice that results in birth defects can occur in a variety of ways. When a medical professional fails to act according to accepted medical standards, and injury results, you may have a malpractice or negligence claim. Any medical professional may be negligent during the course of a pregnancy- lab technicians, nurses, radiologists, doctors, specialists, even manufacturers of medical equipment can be negligent. Some typical examples of negligent malpractice that occur during pregnancy include:
- Failing to perform an ultrasound properly
- Failing to read an ultrasound properly
- Prescribing dangerous medication during a pregnancy
- Performing a diagnostic test incorrectly
- Failing to perform tests
- Ignoring test results
- Not advising the patient of risks
If you are asking yourself “was my child’s birth defect caused by medical malpractice?” contact Alonso Krangle, LLP for a free case evaluation.
Malpractice During Delivery Can Also Cause Birth Injuries
During labor and delivery, every decision counts and is made to ensure a healthy baby remains that way. Unfortunately, when a doctor or other medical professional makes acts negligently, the result can be catastrophic to a child.
Some common ways that malpractice occurs during labor and delivery include:
- Failing to read tests that indicate fetal danger
- Failing to perform a C-section promptly
- Using instruments that harm the baby
- Surgical errors
- Anesthesia errors
- Medication errors
- Failing to make proper evaluations
When a medical practitioner violates accepted standards of care, and the result is injuries to your child, you should consider filing a lawsuit for medical malpractice. Evaluating a negligence claim is complicated and involves knowing how to investigate, evaluate medical records, and ask the right questions. Contact our experienced birth defect lawyer Alonso Krangle, LLP to get started.
Common Birth Defects Caused By Medical Malpractice
Anytime a baby is born with an injury or condition that could have been prevented it is tragic. It can result in severe emotional trauma for the family who was expecting a healthy child. It can also cause a lifetime of pain and suffering for the child. The financial costs of raising a child with special needs can be astronomical. Filing a lawsuit to recover monetary damages can help a family provide their child with the care, supervision, and medical attention needed to allow them to live their best life.
Some of the most common birth defects caused by negligence are:
- Cleft palate
- Spina Bifida
- Congenital heart defects
- Down syndrome
- Neural tube defects
- PKU
- Cleft lip
- Gastroschisis
- Craniosynostosis
- Anencephaly
- Microcephaly
- Hydrocephaly
- Limb deformities
- Head deformities
- Cerebral Palsy
Some of the above conditions can be caused by taking certain medications during pregnancy like Zoloft, Clomid, Ibuprofen, and Prozac. Others may be caused because a doctor did not notice the baby’s heart rate was dropping or that the child was experiencing head trauma. At times, a malpractice case may be supported by a misdiagnosis- when a baby is born with a condition that someone should have discovered during the pregnancy.
There Is a Time Limit to File a Claim For Medical Malpractice that Results in Birth Defects
Time limits to file lawsuits are strict. The statute of limitations gives you a certain amount of time during which to file your claim. If you do not submit it during the proper period, you may forfeit your legal rights. The only way to determine how much time is left is to speak with an attorney now who can evaluate your case.
Contact Alonso Krangle, LLP to Find Out If You Have a Medical Malpractice Claim
If you suspect your child’s birth defect was caused by negligence during your pregnancy or delivery, you should begin a full legal evaluation of the situation. Alonso Krangle, LLP can provide a comprehensive assessment of your case at no cost and help determine the best course of action. If the facts of your case support a claim, we can help you pursue all available legal remedies. Our goal is to secure a fair outcome that can help you provide everything your child needs.
Was your child born with a birth defect? Call our New York medical malpractice and negligence lawyer Alonso Krangle at 516-350-5555 today and find out if you are entitled to recover monetary damages.
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