May 13, 2009

Grandmother Files Illinois Birth Injury Lawsuit

A lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County, IL on behalf of a baby that died due to birth injuries. The child’s grandmother filed the birth injury lawsuit against the doctor that delivered him and the hospital where he was born. The lawsuit alleges that the doctor failed to perform a cesarean or treat the baby during delivery. The baby suffered neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy during delivery and died several months later from his birth injury. Read full coverage of this Illinois medical malpractice case.

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Posted In: C-Section Delay, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Illinois Birth Injury, Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Survivial Action

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March 6, 2009

Cool New Therapy Reduces Brain Damage in Oxygen-Deprived Infants

Babies who are deprived of oxygen for any significant period of time during birth have a very high risk of suffering permanent brain damage. This risk of birth injury has shown to be reduced, however, by a new therapy that is pretty cool, literally. The therapy, called induced hypothermia, involves placing an infant on a cooling blanket within 6 hours of its birth for a period of 3 days, bringing its temperature down from the normal 98.6 degrees to about 92 degrees. Research shows that, while the therapy may not completely prevent brain damage, babies suffering from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or birth hypoxia and asphyxia, that receive the treatment have a greater chance of survival and the extent of their brain damage from oxygen deprivation is reduced.

Read more about this new cooling therapy here.

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Posted In: Birth Injury Prevention, Birth Injury Treatment, Fetus/Fetal Asphyxia, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus, Reports & Studies

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January 11, 2009

Illinois birth injury victim receives millions in settlement

A settlement has been reached in an Illinois birth injury lawsuit involving an Aurora boy who is now 7 years old. The boy allegedly suffered a birth injury when the hospital staff failed to respond to the baby’s low heart rate and reduced oxygen flow caused the drug Pitocin. He was born with metabolic acidosis and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. The defendants in the birth injury lawsuit settled for $6.5 million.

For the full article.

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Posted In: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

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October 27, 2008

Birth Complications and Hypoxia Associated with Increased Risk of Schizophrenia

A new study published in the November 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry concludes that complications during pregnancy and birth hypoxia, a shortage of oxygen to the baby’s brain which can result from delays in delivery, are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia. The study specifically finds that people who later develop schizophrenia are more likely to have decreased levels of neuroprotective protein – brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an indicator of fetal distress resulting from birth hypoxia. The study’s authors are hopeful that their findings, which will require further testing, may someday lead to preventative intervention and at-birth identification of individuals at high-risk of developing the condition.

For the full story, click here.

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Posted In: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus

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October 24, 2008

Jury Awards $11.4 Million for Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury

A Wisconsin jury awarded $11.4 million to the parents of a child born with Cerebral Palsy, and found a nurse and midwife at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center negligent in the child’s delivery, causing the brain damage. The lawsuit alleged that the baby was deprived of oxygen due to a delay in his delivery and that the mother was administered the drug Pitocin in frequent and increased dosages without a physician’s order, in violation of hospital policy, which caused additional stress to the fetus and an abnormal contraction pattern.

The child suffers from Cerebral Palsy and other permanent personal injuries. He is not expected to ever walk or talk and requires a feeding tube. The parents state that, while the jury award cannot give their child a normal life, it will help them to provide the therapy, treatment, and accommodations that their son will need throughout his life.
For the full story, click here.

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Posted In: Cerebral Palsy, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus, Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Verdicts and Settlements

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October 10, 2008

Jury Awards $4.25 Million in Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawsuit

A jury found a hospital liable for medical malpractice and awarded $4.25 million to the family of a girl who, after a traumatic birth, was born with Cerebral Palsy and brain damage. The baby’s heart rate began to drop while the mother was lying in a hospital bed but the doctor had gone home for dinner. By the time another doctor arrived and performed an emergency Cesarean Section, the baby had been deprived of oxygen for 20 minutes.

The jury found that the hospital ignored signs of fetal distress, failed to notify a doctor in time to perform a timely emergency C-Section, and that this delay caused the child’s injuries.

The jury awarded compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost future earnings and pain and suffering.

For the full story, click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: C-Section Delay, Cerebral Palsy, Fetus/Fetal Asphyxia, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus, Verdicts and Settlements

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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