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April 24, 2009

New Illinois Law Will Allow Children with Cerebral Palsy and other Developmental Disorders to Get Treatment

Illinois birth injury victims may get access to treatment that was previously unavailable to them thanks to new legislation recently signed by Governor Pat Quinn. Children with cerebral palsy and other developmental disorders such as Down syndrome and autism will soon be able to get treatment thanks to a new law that requires insurance companies to pay for speech, physical and occupational therapies. Specifically, the law requires insurers to extend coverage to “habilitative treatments,” which are those intended to teach new skills and maximize functioning. The law takes effect January 1, 2010.

For more information on how this new law will help children with cerebral palsy, click here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Treatment, Cerebral Palsy, Legislation

April 13, 2009

New Software Used to Prevent Shoulder Dystocia

A computer program is shaping up to be the new hero in the prevention of shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injuries. A new software program, called CALM Shoulder Screen, has been developed that calculates the risk of shoulder dystocia with permanent injury. The program analyzes several factors, including the mothers’ height and weight and determines whether they are at risk of suffering shoulder dystocia during delivery. Those ascertained to be at high risk can avoid the birth injury by opting for delivery by c-section. Obstetricians throughout the country have began utilizing this web-based system and it has been proven effective to be effective. The program can be used anytime after the 37th week of gestation.

For more information about this birth injury prevention software, click here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention, Brachial Plexus, Shoulder Dystocia

April 8, 2009

Expert in Homicide Case Testifies that Birth Injury, Not Child Abuse, Caused Infant’s Death

A day-care provider charged with reckless homicide following the death of a 4-month-old boy under her care is currently on trial in Wisconsin. The defendant’s medical expert testified earlier this week, however, that the doctors who delivered the baby – not the defendant – were responsible for his death. The expert testified that he believes the baby suffered a subdural hematoma resulting from birth trauma during his delivery by c-section and that a rebleed of this pre-existing injury caused his death. To support his theory that the baby died of a birth injury, the expert pointed to several pieces of evidence, including an irregularity in the growth of the infant’s skull and the lack of evidence showing major external impact. According to his testimony, this type of brain injury is characteristic of birth trauma and its symptoms, if any, are very subtle, including irritability, lethargy and vomiting.

Click here for more information about the testimony relating to the possible birth trauma as cause of death.

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Posted In: Current Issues

April 1, 2009

New Study Finds that Children Conceived in the Spring and Summer Have Increased Number of Birth Defects, May be Attributed to Chemicals and Pesticides in Water

A new study published in this month’s issue of the medical journal Acta Pædiatrica suggests that babies conceived during the Spring and Summer may have a greater risk of developing birth defects, including spina bifida, cleft lip, clubfoot and Down's syndrome. The study looked at over 30 million births and found that the children of women whose last menstrual period occurred in April, May, June or July had an increased number of birth defects.

According to the first author of the study, Paul Winchester, M.D., “elevated concentrations of pesticides and other agrochemicals in surface water during April through July coincided with significantly higher risk of birth defects in live births conceived by women whose last menstrual period began in the same months. While our study didn't prove a cause and effect link, the fact that birth defects and pesticides in surface water peak during the same four months makes us suspect that the two are related."

Click here for more about this birth defect study.

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Posted In: Reports & Studies

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