The Importance of Early Intervention in Birth Injury Cases in New Orleans

In New Orleans, once a child suffers an injury during birth, detecting the signs and symptoms is the top priority and the number one step toward the right path. Although modern medicine has long provided essential tools that will aid in childbirth, sometimes the hospital can be negligent, which can cause significant harm to the baby.

Early intervention in birth injury cases is necessary because it will help diagnose the problem and determine the treatment required to be implemented immediately. After detecting a problem, the parent’s first step is looking for treatment, then hiring a birth injury lawyer in New Orleans. Lawyers help the victims prepare the case and gather evidence because they are familiar with court activities.

Injuries That Can Occur at Birth

There are different ranges of injuries babies can suffer during childbirth; these injuries include

• Hemorrhage/internal bleeding
• Brain damage
• Swelling
• Brachial palsy
• Fractures
• Facial paralysis
• Bruising or forceps marks

Children that are injured should be instantly taken to see a doctor. If the hospital’s negligence causes the injury, it’s best to contact a New Orleans birth injury lawyerimmediately after the treatment.

Can a Birth Injury Be Prevented?

Yes, a birth injury can be prevented. The doctors should ensure that they provide proper prenatal care that assesses the health of the mother and the baby. With the prenatal test, the healthcare professional will understand whether the mother has symptoms of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, infections, etc., and whether the baby shows signs of fetal problems such as intrauterine growth restriction, suboptimal position, umbilical cord problems, and other related problems.

Also, detecting and addressing fetal distress signs can help prevent birth injury. Some signs of fetal distress include lack of fetal movement, abnormal heart rate, amniotic fluid abnormality, cramping, etc. Another method to prevent childbirth injury is premature birth and minimizing birth risk by taking common interventions like cervical cerclage, progesterone, and magnesium sulfate. In cases where premature birth is inevitable, the hospital can take specific measures, such as antenatal steroids and magnesium sulfate. It’s also essential for doctors to understand when vaginal delivery can be dangerous for the mother or the baby.

Lastly, the hospital should adequately care for the baby in their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Once there is an issue after childbirth, the parents should take necessary measures such as giving the baby immediate medical assistance, hiring a lawyer if there is negligence, and more.

Types of Early intervention for Birth Injuries

Birth injury treatment depends on the type of injury and the baby’s needs. Some injuries require short-term treatment, and some need long-term treatment to heal. Some intervention options include

Therapy

Therapy is helpful to children that most find it hard to execute everyday activities like reading, eating, bathing, writing, and other related issues.

Medications

Medication is mainly given to children experiencing pain, seizure, swelling, incontinence, etc.

Surgery

Surgery is mainly the option the medical assistant will give when medications and therapy aren’t enough. Such circumstances include brain bleeding, blood clots, seizures, etc.

Assistive devices

Assistive devices are tools given to children with difficulty walking, so they will be given devices like wheelchairs, leg braces, crutches, catheters, and breathing supports in case of a more severe injury.

What is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice happens when a doctor or healthcare provider fails to provide appropriate treatment or causes harm or death to their patients. Medical malpractice is usually due to medical errors in diagnosis, drug dosage, cure, or management. When this happens, the victim can take legal action. For example, in New Orleans, if medical malpractice occurs during childbirth, the parents can hire an experienced birth injury lawyer. 

With the help of an experienced birth injury lawyer, New Orleans parents can get the help they need to receive the compensation they and their injured baby deserve. Some known medical malpractices include misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, incorrect or unnecessary surgery, premature discharge, not following up with the patients, wrong prescriptions, and many other related problems.

What to Do if You Suspect Your Baby’s Birth Injury Could Have Been Prevented

If you observe that your child is suffering from a childbirth injury that the healthcare providers could have prevented, you should hire a birth injury lawyer in New Orleans. They can file a lawsuit to obtain compensation for the damage caused and pay for treatment and other expenses.

In this situation, you do not want to fight the case alone because hospitals have legal teams to protect them in such cases. A New Orleans birth injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process, hold the negligent party accountable for the injury to your child, and compensate you for the physical and emotional damage. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Reviewed by the New Orleans Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers office.

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