Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Home

Room for Improvement

Posted on July 27, 2012 by

U.S. Ranks 41st in Newborn Survival According to a study reviewing 20 years of data from all 193 member nations of the World Health Organization, the United States now ranks 41st in terms of newborn survival, compared to its rank of 28 in 1990. The newborn death rate in the United States currently sits at 4.3 per 1,000 live births. Sometimes newborn death results from medical malpractice, just as birth injuries often result from medical errors or negligence. Babies who experience birth trauma are at risk of developing hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, autism and other diseases, and they may require lifelong care or die in their infancy or childhood. When a medical mistake results in an infant’s birth injury or death, an experienced cerebral palsy attorney may be able to help. Why Is the United States Ranked 41st? According to one of the study’s researchers, Dr. Joy Lawn of Save the…
Read More »

Common Causes of Birth-Related Brain Injuries

Posted on July 27, 2012 by

Sometimes an infant suffers brain damage during the birthing process, which can result in lifelong medical problems. Some conditions that arise from brain injury during birth include: Cerebral palsy Autism Hydrocephalus Down syndrome Epilepsy Behavior and language disorders Reading difficulties Brain injuries can occur during labor or delivery and are sometimes the result of medical malpractice. Medical errors during the birthing process that can cause an infant to suffer brain damage include but are not limited to: Using forceps at the wrong stage of labor Improperly using vacuum extractors Failing to treat jaundice, resulting in a form of brain damage known as kernicterus Ordering a cesarean section (C-section) too late Failing to properly treat or anticipate bleeding Delaying the delivery of a large baby Failing to properly resuscitate a baby or not acting quickly enough Administering drugs to the mother without proper monitoring, or making mistakes in dosage or delivery…
Read More »

Terbutaline’s Use as a Preterm Labor Drug

Posted on July 27, 2012 by

As many parents of twins may be aware, studies show that identical and fraternal twin sets have a higher risk for developing autism. A Columbia University geneticist found that identical twins are 12 times more likely than the general population to develop autism, and fraternal twins are four times more likely. St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London completed a similar study, finding that identical twins are 14 times more likely to develop autism. A more recent study published by Archives of General Psychiatry found that of 192 twin sets, 77 percent of male identical twins, 50 percent of female identical twins, 31 percent of male fraternal twins and 36 percent of female fraternal twins had autism spectrum disorders. What some parents may not know, however, is Terbutaline, an asthma drug commonly used “off-label” to stop pre-term labor, may contribute to the development of autism. Because twins are already at…
Read More »