When you are expecting a child, you trust your doctor and medical team to tell you what should concern you and to take care of what they can see. Sadly, they do not always get this right.
Jaundice is a common condition in newborns, and most babies recover with prompt treatment. However, if they do not receive this treatment, they may develop life-altering disabilities. Our Santa Ana jaundice injury lawyer works to help women and children who have suffered from preventable birth injuries. Contact our firm and speak with one of our birth injury attorneys about your situation to learn more.
While a mother is pregnant, the infant’s body relies on the mother’s body to process natural waste products in the blood. After the baby is born, their liver is not always ready to process all the waste chemicals from its body. One of these waste products, bilirubin, can build up in the infant’s body causing jaundice.
A baby’s skin and eyes usually turn yellowish during jaundice. When treatment begins right away, the baby should recover without any issues. However, delayed treatment can develop into bilirubin encephalopathy, damaging the child’s brain.
This brain damage is called kernicterus or bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction, depending on how severe it is, and the damage may be permanent. For instance, kernicterus can leave children with:
In this state, the injuries that kernicterus causes could leave a child in need of resources for long-term assistance, such as physical therapy, educational support, and mobility aids. One of our Santa Ana attorneys could examine your jaundice injury case and help provide guidance.
More than half of newborns experience some jaundice, and obstetrician/gynecological professionals learn to expect it. However, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers can overlook jaundice when:
To properly monitor for jaundice, the medical team must track the infant’s bilirubin levels and watch for other symptoms. Unfortunately, the same issues that lead to medical malpractice everywhere can also cause it to happen in neonatal care, which one of our Santa Ana attorneys could further discuss.
If your child’s medical treatment fell below the accepted standard of care in California, you may have the right to pursue compensation from the responsible provider or hospital. These cases can be complex, and understanding your options starts with a careful review of what happened and how it has affected your child and your family.
Your legal team would begin by listening to your story and gathering any records or evidence you already have. From there, they would conduct a thorough review of medical records and other documentation to assess the full scope of your child’s losses. This may include the cost of ongoing care, future medical needs, and the long-term impact on your child’s ability to earn a living.
In some cases, your claim may proceed through arbitration instead of going to court. Arbitration can offer a more efficient path to a resolution, potentially providing faster financial support for your family. That said, every situation is different. An experienced Santa Ana jaundice attorney can help you weigh your options and decide on the path that best protects your child’s future.
We know this is not where you wanted to be as a parent: grieving, worrying about the future, and looking for help. Ikuta Hemesath, LLP, is here to help children and parents with birth injuries and illnesses.
Contact our firm to make your appointment with our Santa Ana jaundice injury lawyer. Please do not hesitate to reach out, as you may be close to a deadline.
Ikuta Hemesath, LLP
N/a
Santa Ana
(949) 229-5654