Birth Trauma Attorneys Explore the Causes According to one report, the United States now has the highest first-day infant death rate of all industrialized countries. Over 11,000 newborns in the U.S. die before they are even 24 hours old, which is 50 percent more than all other industrialized countries combined. This data may be shocking to many mothers to-be and is far below what most people expect from the health care in the U.S. This raises questions about what medical practices cause so many U.S. newborns to suffer wrongful death. The Causes of High Infant Mortality in the United States The first 24 hours of a child’s life are the riskiest, and many factors can cause the child to suffer from complications, including some that occur far before the child is born: Poor prenatal care is often linked to infant mortality. Many pregnant women receive inadequate health care during pregnancy….
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Preterm Boys at Higher Risk for Death and Disabilities
December 18, 2013According to ScienceDaily, a global study on preterm birth and disability carried out by almost 50 researchers and 35 institutions found that baby boys are at a higher risk of death and disability due to preterm birth than girls are. The news service reported that a report in Pediatric Research indicated that boys are 14 percent more likely to be born preterm than girls are. “Baby boys have a higher likelihood of infections, jaundice, birth complications, and congenital conditions, but the biggest risk for baby boys is due to preterm birth. For two babies born at the same degree of prematurity, a boy will have a higher risk of death and disability compared to a girl. Even in the womb, girls mature more rapidly than boys, which provides an advantage, because the lungs and other organs are more developed,” Professor Joy Lawn, M.D., PhD, a neonatologist and epidemiologist at the…
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Delays in Genetic Testing at Hospitals Putting Babies at Risk
December 11, 2013Last month, the Denver Post reported that hospital delays across the country are putting babies at risk for disabilities. While it may seem obvious, the Post article had some alarming statistics and examples of delays relating to birth and genetic testing that were baffling. According to the Post, nearly every baby born in the U.S. has its blood collected within a day or two following birth, to be screened for genetic and metabolic disorders. This is done so disorders can be detected quickly, averting possible death or limiting brain damage and further disabilities. However, according to the Post, many healthcare providers are having issues with the speed or processing times associated with testing. Using statistics provided by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Post reported that last year, of the nearly 3 million screening tests performed, an estimated 160,000 from 31 states arrived late to labs. Among the other findings in…
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