Brooklyn Oxygen Deficiency Injury

Oxygen deprivation during pregnancy or delivery puts a baby at risk of suffering a serious birth injury such as cerebral palsy, Hypoxic-anoxic encephalopathy, or some other type of serious brain injury. In the most severe cases the baby does not survive. While there are a number of factors that could result in the baby being deprived of adequate oxygen, oftentimes the devastating effects of oxygen deprivation could have been avoided if the doctors identify signs of oxygen deprivation right away and respond appropriately. For example, fetal distress can be detected by fetal monitoring. In the same way that a victim of a car accident can pursue damages from the person whose negligence called the accident, New York law allows you to pursue damages from negligent doctors. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because your baby was injured because of oxygen deprivation due to your doctor’s negligence, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Brooklyn Oxygen Deficiency Injury Lawyer who will explain to you your legal rights to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

An oxygen deficiency can be caused by a number of factors during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Common causes include:

• Long birth. When a birth is difficult and or the baby spends too much time in the birth canal, the baby can become distressed and experience a lack of oxygen
• Compressed or twisted umbilical cord. If the umbilical cord becomes compressed or twisted, oxygen, blood flow, and nutrients can be cut off from the baby, resulting in brain damage.
• Meconium aspiration. Meconium is baby feces. If the baby inhales some of the meconium, the baby’s airway may be blocked resulting in an oxygen deficiency.

If a baby does not get sufficient oxygen, the consequences may be devastating, including:

• Brain damage
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delays
• Mental retardation
• Blindness
• Inability to walk
• Speech difficulties

However, many long-term injuries can be avoided it the medical staff acts quickly. For example, if the baby gets stuck in the birth canal and is in distress, one option is to immediately deliver the baby via a cesarean delivery.

Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional such as an obstetrician, nurse, or other healthcare professional fails to take reasonable care and as a result the patient suffers an injury. Thus, if a doctor fails to appropriately assess the risk of oxygen deficiency or properly respond when the baby is in distress, and as a result your baby is injured New York law allows you to hold that doctor and other medical professionals legally and financially liable.

The negligent party may be required to compensate you for your baby’s medical bills related to the injuries suffered because of the medical mistake. If as a result of your baby’s injury you end up missing a work, your damages could include compensation for the income you lost. The court may also award damages based on the physical and mental anguish your baby suffers because of the injury.

Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim for a personal injury. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit. In addition, if the party responsible for your injury was a government entity then there are special procedures you must follow to file a claim.

If you suspect that you or your baby was injured because your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional failed to detect or appropriately respond to a lack of oxygen do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced birth injury attorney. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates is experienced in successfully representing clients who have suffered injuries due to mistakes made by medical professionals, as well as those injured in car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, and other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.