Baltimore Birth Asphyxia Attorney

Birth asphyxia, also known as perinatal or neonatal asphyxia, is when the infant suffers oxygen deprivation either before, during, or right after birth. Sadly, this lack of oxygen can cause severe injury to the infant or, in the worst cases, even death.

If your child suffered birth asphyxia due to the actions of a negligent medical professional, it is possible to seek justice through a civil claim. A Baltimore birth asphyxia attorney at Brown & Barron can guide you through the legal process, helping you build, substantiate, and argue your case. 

Although no firm can guarantee that you will win, our reputation for success serves as solid evidence of our extensive experience in and passion for this area of the law.

Get in touch with a birth asphyxia lawyer serving Baltimore, (410) 698-1717 for a free case evaluation.

Is Birth Asphyxia Always Caused by Negligence?

Some instances of birth asphyxia are not preventable; therefore, no one is at fault. However, when healthcare professionals cause the infant to suffer oxygen deprivation or fail to remedy a natural instance of it in a timely manner, they could be legally responsible for any harm that results.

It is simply unacceptable when they fail in this regard and cause injury to the child. After all, they are trained to identify any issues that could lead to birth asphyxia and should have the expertise to either prevent it from occurring or treat it immediately.

There are numerous causes of birth asphyxia that medical professionals should be able to handle, including:

The difficulty with these claims is that negligent health care professionals are often reluctant to admit fault and may even attempt to cover it up. This misleads parents and causes them to falsely believe that their child’s preventable birth injury could not have been avoided. If you have reason to suspect that negligence was committed or a cover-up was executed, one of our birth asphyxia attorneys can assist you in uncovering the truth by investigating the incident.

Birth Asphyxia Can Cause Further Injury

Not only is birth asphyxia severely traumatic for an infant to experience, but it can also lead to further injury. 

Short-Term Effects of Birth Asphyxia

In the short term, it can result in: 

• Respiratory distress: This occurs when fluid builds up in tiny air sacs in your lungs. The fluid prevents the baby’s lungs from being able to fill up with air. Therefore, less blood gets into the baby’s bloodstream. This causes your organs to be deprived of the oxygen they need to function. (Mayo Clinic)
• Blood clots: Although some blood clots can be helpful by stopping the bleeding if you get a small cut on your skin, some can be dangerous. These can lead to serious complications because the clot disrupts the flow of blood to important organs. (Seattle Children’s Hospital)
• Kidney problems: There is a link between oxygen deprivation and kidney injury. (International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine) Kidneys filter excess wastes and fluids from your blood. Kidney issues can be dangerous because these wastes could build up in your blood and cause complications. 
• Low blood pressure: This could cause health problems if it is low for too long. For instance, low blood pressure could cause the baby’s body to go into shock.

Several long-term injuries rooted in mild and moderate birth asphyxia could include the development of: 

• Autism spectrum disorder: This is a developmental disability that causes significant communication, social, and behavioral delays. The way people with autism spectrum disorder learn, communicate, behave, and problem-solve can look different than other people. Signs of autism spectrum disorder can begin in early childhood and will continue throughout their life. 
• Attention deficits: People with attention deficits might struggle to pay attention or control their impulses. These conditions cannot be cured, but they can be managed. (Journal of Child Neurology)
• Adulthood mental illnesses: Research has suggested that there could be a correlation between birth asphyxia and an increased likelihood of developing adult mental illness. Mental illnesses usually impact someone’s cognition, emotional control, or behavioral control. (Hormones)

Severe asphyxia can lead to:

• Intellectual disabilities: A condition causing severe limitations to someone’s cognitive and adaptive behavior. Their cognitive or intellectual ability refers to one’s general learning capacity. 
• Vision issues: This could cause someone to have an abnormal light response, blunted or avoidant social gaze, or poor visual acuity. 
• Cerebral palsy: This is a group of disorders that affect someone’s movements. This can impact their balance and posture. Cerebral palsy can be caused by damage to the brain during the developmental period. 
• Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a blanket term for brain disorders that cause seizures. It is a neurological disorder where seizures are present. 

Contact Brown & Barron onlinetoday to schedule a free case review with a birth asphyxia lawyer serving Baltimore.

At Brown & Barron, We Restore Lives by Restoring Justice

Our team takes pride in the results we have achieved for our clients. We have recovered over $90 million in damages over the years. When you choose our firm, we guarantee we will advocate for you during negotiations or at trial, have accessible and responsive communication, and guide you through your claim. We work closely with our clients throughout their cases by keeping them informed and providing legal advice. 

Our attorneys believe that if you or your loved one has been hurt by a medical professional, the person responsible should be held accountable. We work hard to try to reach a fair settlement for our clients. If a settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to fight for you in a trial.

Put More Than 137 Years of Collective Experience in Your Corner

Brown & Barron knows how to investigate and litigate birth asphyxia claims in the name of justice and patient safety. We genuinely care about our Baltimore community and are passionate about protecting the rights of families wronged by careless general practitioners (GPs), midwives, obstetricians, doulas, or any other healthcare professionals.

At our firm, we offer free consultations so potential clients can learn about how we can help without any obligation. 

Call a Baltimore birth asphyxia attorney today for your free consultation. One of our staff members is available 24/7 to take your call.