Category Archives: Brain Damage
Hypothermia Used to Prevent Newborn Brain Damage
New studies show that inducing hypothermia, or cooling patients down with a cold blanket, eases damaging effects resulting from emergencies including oxygen loss. In particular, advanced neonatal intensive care units are using hypothermia to treat newborns experiencing restricted blood flow during delivery. According to the Los Angeles Times, restricted blood flow causes oxygen deprivation, and newborns who experience this oxygen deprivation may suffer brain damage and cerebral palsy. In a 2005 study, doctors cooled 102 infants and compared them to 106 babies kept warm after experiencing potential brain damage. Fifty-six percent of infants who were cooled survived with little or no disability compared to 38 percent of infants kept warm. Amanda Reynolds gave birth to Avery in 2010, blue from a lack of oxygen. Doctors wrapped the infant in a cold blanket to induce hypothermia. She spent more than six weeks in the hospital, but now she is developmentally on…
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Posted in Birth Trauma, Brain Damage, Cerebral Palsy Tagged birth trauma lawyer, cerebral palsy, hypothermia, oxygen deprivation Comments Off on Hypothermia Used to Prevent Newborn Brain Damage
Infant Suffers Permanent Brain Injuries, Parents Win Right to Sue for Negligence
According to AMA ASSN, the parents of a brain-damaged girl have won the right to sue the hospital and doctor who treated her instead of pursuing a financial remedy through a state fund for birth-related injuries. The Supreme Court of Florida ruled that the parents of Tristan Bennett can avoid the state fund, which could have significant liability consequences for other physicians involved in similar brain injury claims. Tristan was delivered by cesarean section at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida, after her mother was involved in an automobile accident. The infant required resuscitation after birth but responded to oxygen efforts. Tristan was later sent to the special care nursery because of moderate respiratory distress, but continued to experience several health ailments the following week, including kidney and liver problems. About two months later, the newborn experienced a pulmonary hemorrhage and stopped breathing. Tests showed that she had permanent…
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Posted in Brain Damage Tagged Birth Defects, birth trauma attorney, birth trauma lawyer Comments Off on Infant Suffers Permanent Brain Injuries, Parents Win Right to Sue for Negligence
Birth Injury Victims Get Compensation From a State Neurological Fund
According to Beckers Hospital Review, the state of New York has agreed to pay medical bills for newborns who suffer brain injuries during birth. This will mean that the state, not the hospital, will be responsible for footing the bills. A new fund has been created in New York’s 2011-2012 budget to pay the newborns’ bills. Supports of the fund say the change will reduce medical malpractice premiums. However, the critics say the fund will create an unnecessary layer of burden on the state and forgive hospital for avoidable medical errors. The fund plans to cover all newborns who experience a brain or spinal cord injury due to oxygen deprivation or mechanical injury during labor, delivery or resuscitation. Meanwhile, families of injured newborns will need to file lawsuits and prove medical negligence in court. Families that win a judgment will receive coverage for lifetime medical costs from the state. Providers…
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Posted in Brain Damage Tagged birth injury, brain damage, fund, medical malpractice, neurological, New York, state Comments Off on Birth Injury Victims Get Compensation From a State Neurological Fund
