Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is Not Something Parents Plan For

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a birth injury and occurs when a baby breathes meconium, the baby’s first stool, and amniotic fluid into the lungs causing the airways to become blocked. Contact one of our experienced Kentucky birth injury attorneys, if your child has suffered a birth injury.

Is it Malpractice When a Material Infection Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy can be a result of a mother who has a maternal infection that is poorly treated by the delivering doctor.

How Cerebral Palsy Affects Development of Children in Kentucky & Ohio

A common type of Kentucky birth injury is cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy affects movement, motor skills and muscle tone.

Kentucky Birth Injuries Caused by Obstetric Forceps

The use of obstetric forceps during delivery can cause a serious Kentucky birth injury. If you or someone you know has a child who has suffered a serious birth injury, you should contact one of our experienced Northern Kentucky birth injury attorneys at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297.

Pitocin and Kentucky Birth Injuries

The poor use of pitocin or oxytocin by a Kentucky doctor can result in a serious birth injury. If you or someone you know has a child who has suffered birth trauma from the use of oxytocin, you should contact one of our experienced Northern Kentucky birth injury lawyers at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297.

Kentucky Birth Injuries Caused by Vacuum Extractions

Vacuum extraction can cause birth injuries in Kentucky newborns. Birth trauma can occur when a doctor is negligent and misuses the vacuum extractor during delivery.

Understanding the Severity of Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is a type of birth injury that affects many newborns each year. This birth trauma can lead to serious complications. If your child has been injured, you should contact a Northern Kentucky birth injury lawyer for advice.

Warning Signs of Brachial Palsy Every Parent Should Know

Do you know the warning signs of a birth injury known as brachial palsy? If you believe your infant has brachial palsy that was the result of medical malpractice, contact an experienced Northern Kentucky birth injury lawyer at the Law Office of Schachter, Hendy & Johnson at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297.

The Scary Truth About Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Infants can suffer brain damage from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.  This type of birth injury is frequently caused by medical mistakes and can be fatal.

This birth injury is characterized by damage to the cells in the central nervous system from oxygen deprivation.  Brain damage can occur when the baby does not receive enough oxygen.
There are various circumstances that can lead to inadequate oxygen supply to the brain.  Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can result from a delayed C-section, prolonged labor and delivery, prolapsed umbilical cord, misread fetal heartbeat and doctor negligence.  It is also caused when the baby is in the birth canal too long.

Hypoxia can cause serious problems including mental retardation, developmental delay, cerebral palsy or even death.

As a parent, it can be difficult to pinpoint what exactly caused your child to suffer from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.  If your child has sustained a birth injury, you should contact a Kentucky medical malpractice lawyer who can review your child’s situation to determine what caused the injury.  You may be able to recover compensation if doctor error led to the birth injury.

Birth Injuries Can Lead to Neonatal Death

Even with today’s medical advancements, birth injuries still occur at an alarming rate.  It has been estimated that as many as 6 to 8 injuries occur per 1,000 live births.  Some of these injuries can be prevented and should never have occurred in the first place.

Birth trauma occurs when an infant is injured from mechanical forces, including compression or traction, during the birth process.  The majority of birth traumas have a good prognosis and the injuries heal themselves.  Almost half of birth injuries are avoidable, as long as certain risk factors are identified.

Birth injury cases often involve factors such as prematurity, breech delivery, prolonged labor and fetal anomalies.  Sometimes birth injuries, such as shoulder dystocia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or cerebral palsy, are caused by doctor error or a hospital mistake.  In these situations, delayed C-section, misuse of forceps or vacuum extraction, lack of oxygen or delayed birth are frequently to blame, which are generally preventable medical errors.

If your child has sustained a birth injury, you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice case against the medical provider who caused the injury.  You should contact an experienced Kentucky medical malpractice attorney at the Law Office of Schachter, Hendy & Johnson at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297.  The law firm represents injured victims in Ohio and Kentucky and has over 35 years of experience.

Cerebral Palsy Facts

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you know the devastation of realizing that your little one will face a life of health challenges and disability.  Cerebral palsy is defined by Wikipedia.com as “is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, motor, non-contagious conditions that cause physical disability in human development.”

Cerebral palsy affects approximately 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children.  Some of the other cerebral palsy facts include the following:

• Nearly 10,000 infants will develop cerebral palsy every year in the United States.
• It has been estimated that 800,000 people suffer from cerebral palsy in the United States.
• The average cost of cerebral palsy is almost $1 million over the lifetime of the person affected.
• Approximately two-thirds of children who have cerebral palsy are mentally impaired.
• Out of the 1000 infants born, approximately 2 to 3 will suffer brachial plexus birth injuries.

Cerebral palsy is often caused by a birth injury that results in brain damage.  The injury may have occurred during the birth process from a prolonged labor, which may cause oxygen deprivation.  Fever during pregnancy has also been linked to cerebral palsy among infants. There have even been cases of cerebral palsy caused from the negligence of the doctor, hospital or nursing staff.  In those cases, they can be held liable for medical malpractice.

Contact a Kentucky birth injury lawyer at the Law Office of Schachter, Hendy & Johnson at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297 for legal advice. 

Understanding cerebral palsy

Attorney Ronald E. Johnson of Schachter & Hendy concentrates on legal issues surrounding children's birth injuries.

Cerebral palsy is a form of injury due to birth trauma. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has information and resources for parents who want to know more about cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a type of neurological disorder that happens in babies and early childhood. It affects that child's body movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy is caused by problems in the parts of the brain that direct muscle movement. Most children who have cerebral palsy were born with it. The signs should occur before the child reaches 3 years of age.

The symptoms include:

• lack of muscle coordination
• stiff or tight muscles
• exaggerated reflexes
• walking while dragging one foot
• walking on the toes
• a crouched walk
• floppy or stiff muscle tone

For more information, contact NINDS at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm