Ohio NICU Injury Attorneys
Holding medical professional accountable for more than three decades
Spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, is not how most parents envision their earliest interactions with their newborn babies. However, roughly 500,000 babies must spend some time in the NICU every year in the United States. Some babies may only have to spend one night in the NICU, whereas others may stay several months. The medical professionals in charge of caring for these fragile babies should offer excellent care. In some cases, however, medical errors occur that seriously injure babies while they are in the NICU. At The Eisen Law Firm, our Cleveland birth injury attorneys hold medical professionals accountable for the harm they cause.
What types of errors occur in the NICU?
NICU babies require careful monitoring and specialized treatments. Errors may mean the difference between life and death.
The following are some of the errors that occur in neonatal intensive care units:
- Resuscitation errors: Delays in resuscitating a baby, the failure to quickly and properly place a breathing tube, and the failure to take steps to prevent or treat respiratory distress are all examples of resuscitation errors that can result in brain injury or death.
- Failing to diagnose or treat intracranial hemorrhages: Some babies have bleeding in their brains. This can be caused by several conditions, including prematurity. If left untreated or inadequately treated, the baby may experience brain damage that can cause permanent disability or death.
- Failing to diagnose or treat infections: An infection can be quite serious in a newborn, especially in one that is staying in the NICU. If proper antibiotics and other medications are not administered, the baby may become seriously ill.
- Failing to diagnose or manage hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, occurs when the baby’s brain does not receive enough blood and oxygen. HIE is a type of brain damage and requires immediate action—within a few hours at most. Without treatment, cerebral palsy and other serious conditions can develop.
- Failing to treat seizures: It can be difficult at times to know for certain whether a baby is having a seizure. Sometimes the seizure resembles a staring spell rather than a full-blown episode of trembling or jerking movements. Trained medical professionals, however, should recognize the signs of neonatal seizure and act quickly to prevent permanent brain damage from occurring.
- Failing to properly treat jaundice: Jaundice is an extremely common condition in newborns. It involves excess bilirubin, which is released into the bloodstream as red blood cells break down. If the baby cannot process the bilirubin quickly enough, brain damage may occur. Properly monitored and treated, such brain damage is almost always preventable.
- Failing to monitor and treat low blood sugar levels: In most cases, low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is easy to treat in newborns. If left untreated, however, it may quickly cause seizures and brain damage.
- Medication errors: Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals may give the wrong medication or a dosage that is too low or too high. Depending on the medication, serious complications may result.
It is difficult for many parents to determine if a medical error has occurred. However, after meeting with our experienced Ohio birth injury attorneys, parents may learn that a medical professional is responsible for their baby’s injuries.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our birth injury attorneys
At The Eisen Law Firm, our Cleveland birth injury attorneys know how to identify NICU injuries and hold medical professionals accountable. We are proud to serve families throughout all of Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Toledo, and Lorain. To schedule a free consultation, call 216-687-0900 or contact us online.