Medical Malpractice Causing Neonatal Seizures

Sometimes, the birth of a child does not go as planned. Parents dream of the day their child is born, and it is not typically anticipated that serious complications may occur. The fact of the matter is that unfortunately complications do occur every day. Some complications are foreseeable or unpreventable, while other complications can sometimes be avoided entirely. One example of a serious complication due to a birth injury is neonatal seizures. Neonatal seizures are typically due to a complication that occurred shortly before birth, during labor and delivery, or just after birth. When the cause of neonatal seizures was preventable, it is considered to be medical malpractice. 

 

Medical Malpractice Related Birth Injuries Leading to Neonatal Seizures

 

Medical malpractice related causes refer to a cause of an injury or illness that is a result of a deviation in the standard of care. There are many different ways in which neonatal seizures can be caused by medical malpractice. Common medical malpractice related causes include the following:

 

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)- This is a devastating birth injury in and of itself, but can cause a baby to experience seizures. HIE is due to a loss of oxygen and blood flow that occurs just before, during, or after birth, leading to brain damage

 

Neonatal Infections – Infections that are either passed from the mother to the baby, or infections that the baby gets after birth can lead to serious brain injuries as well as seizures

 

Umbilical Cord Problems – Umbilical cord problems can lead to neonatal seizures. This is because issues with the umbilical cord that affect oxygen and blood flow to the baby can cause brain damage, leading to seizures

 

Improper Use of Assisted Delivery Devices – The improper use of forceps or vacuum extractor can lead to serious harm such as intracranial hemorrhage or other types of brain bleeds. This trauma can cause a neonate to experience seizures

 

Kernicterus – Kernicterus in and of itself is almost always due to medical malpractice. This birth injury is due to a healthcare provider’s failure to diagnose and treat jaundice, leading to a build up of bilirubin in the brain. This brain tissue damage can lead to seizures

 

Hypoglycemia – Babies who experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can experience serious complications such as seizures if left untreated

 

Uterine Tachysystole – This can occur due to use of labor inducing drugs if overused or improperly used. This is because if a mother is having contractions too close together, it does not allow the newborn to recover in between, leading to a loss of blood flow and oxygen to the brain

 

Medical Malpractice Causes of Neonatal Seizures

 

Sadly, there are times when a medical provider makes a critical error which can forever alter the newborn’s life. While not all cause of neonatal seizures are medical malpractice related, many are. Examples of medical malpractice related causes of neonatal seizures include the following:

 

• Failure to recognize and treat umbilical cord problems
• Failure to recognize fetal distress
• Failure to secure the baby’s airway after birth, leading to oxygen deprivation
• Failure to diagnose jaundice, leading to kernicterus 
• Failure to recognize and treat hypoglycemia
• Improper use of extraction tools
• Failure to properly treat maternal infections 
• Failure to maintain a clean environment, leading to neonatal infection
• Improper use or overuse of labor inducing drugs

 

Learn How Our Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help Your After Medical Malpractice Causing Neonatal Seizes in Oregon Causes Damage

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.