Infant Jaundice Injury Lawyer

Doctors overseeing the birth of a child have an obligation both to the medical community and the law. They must take all appropriate steps to protect a child’s health while still in the womb, during birth, and in the days while still in the hospital.

A common failure of medical staff after a child’s birth is the inability to diagnose and treat infant jaundice properly. Children born with poor liver function may not correctly filter out toxins that flow through their blood. This may lead to severe health problems like brain damage. An infant jaundice injury lawyer could help build a medical malpractice case against doctors, nurses, and hospitals that allowed cases of infant jaundice to develop into more severe injuries. A birth injury attorney can handle the legal work while you focus on the new addition to your family.

Medical Malpractice and the Obligations of Medical Providers

Practicing medicine anywhere in the state comes with a duty to provide competent care. Competent care includes providing a prompt diagnosis, recognizing warning signs of dangers, and providing proper treatment.

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or nurse fails to provide this care. However, just because a person has a negative outcome after visiting a medical professional does not mean it was an incident involving malpractice. Instead, people seeking compensation must prove an injury or illness occurred because a professional failed to provide care that meets the minimal standards of their practice.

An infant jaundice injury attorney is ready to take the lead in proving this concept. They work to provide an initial evaluation of the facts that led to an infant jaundice diagnosis and any subsequent injuries. They hire the experts needed to form opinions about the sources of injuries and why the defendant doctor was negligent in allowing them to occur. Finally, they are ready to present arguments in court that demand proper compensation on behalf of affected children. Ohio Revised Code § 2305.113 gives people as short as one year after a diagnosis to seek compensation. Talking with a legal representative now could help meet this deadline.

Potential Complications Associated with Infant Jaundice

Infant jaundice is a relatively common complication for newborn children. This condition results from a child’s liver being unable to process a substance called bilirubin properly. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment present in a person’s red blood cells. An excess of this substance is what causes jaundiced people to appear to have yellow skin and eyes.

Children born under specific conditions are more at risk for infant jaundice. According to the Mayo Clinic, these conditions include:

If jaundice becomes a problem for a child and medical providers fail to intervene, severe complications can occur. Problems can include a breakdown of brain cells called acute bilirubin encephalopathy or even permanent brain damage called kernicterus.

The onset of these conditions may be an indicator of medical malpractice. A lawyer in Cleveland could help evaluate a child’s medical records to determine if a diagnosis of infant jaundice was timely and if medical providers offered proper treatment to prevent further injury.

Contact an Infant Jaundice Injury Attorney Now

Infant jaundice is a common complication for children born prematurely or who endure injuries during the birthing process. Doctors and nurses must quickly diagnose this condition and provide appropriate care to infants. Failure to do so could result in severe, permanent brain damage.

An infant jaundice injury lawyer may be able to help protect your child’s legal rights. Our team is ready to pursue a medical malpractice case against the doctors, nurses, and hospitals that allowed your child to endure these injuries. They are here to take every necessary step to prove liability, demonstrate losses, and demand proper compensation in and out of court. Speak with Tittle & Perlmuter today to get started.