When your child suffers a birth injury, such as cerebral palsy or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), your world changes in an instant. The joy of welcoming a new life is overshadowed by concerns about your child’s health, future, and medical care needs.
In these moments, the support of a knowledgeable and compassionate legal advocate becomes invaluable. At Brown Trial Firm, experienced birth injury attorney Laura Brown is here to stand beside families in Reno, Nevada, providing expert legal guidance and support during these challenging times.
Laura has a proven track record of success in helping families navigate the complex aftermath of birth injuries. With a deep understanding of both the legal and medical aspects of cases involving cerebral palsy and HIE, Laura brings a compassionate approach to her practice, ensuring that every family receives personalized attention and the highest standard of legal care.
Find out more about how Laura can help with your birth injury case by scheduling a free consultation.
How can medical mistakes lead to HIE and cerebral palsy?
Medical errors can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and subsequently cerebral palsy in several ways, primarily by causing or failing to prevent situations where the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen or blood flow during the birthing process. These mistakes can occur at various points before, during or shortly after birth, and they can have significant, lifelong impacts on the affected child.
Key medical mistakes leading to HIE and cerebral palsy include:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress. Proper monitoring of the fetus’s heart rate during labor and delivery is critical. Mistakes or delays in responding to signs of fetal distress can result in prolonged oxygen deprivation, leading to HIE.
- Improper handling of high-risk pregnancies. High-risk conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or a history of difficult births require careful management. Failing to adequately monitor and treat these conditions can increase the risk of complications leading to HIE and cerebral palsy.
- Delayed delivery intervention. Delaying necessary interventions, such as a cesarean section (C-section), in the face of complications can result in prolonged periods of hypoxia or ischemia, causing brain damage.
- Failure to treat maternal infections. Untreated maternal infections can lead to inflammation and infection in the neonate, potentially causing or exacerbating brain damage that results in conditions like cerebral palsy.
- Inadequate monitoring of fetal growth and well-being. Regular monitoring of the fetus’s growth and movements is essential. Failure to identify fetal growth restriction or decreased fetal movements can indicate underlying problems with the placenta or umbilical cord that, if unaddressed, may result in birth complications, including HIE.
- Misuse of delivery instruments. The incorrect or overly aggressive application of delivery aids such as forceps or vacuum extractors may inflict physical harm to the baby’s head, possibly resulting in brain damage that could lead to cerebral palsy.
- Inadequate neonatal care. After birth, newborns showing signs of distress or those born prematurely may require immediate and specific medical attention to prevent brain damage. Failures in providing adequate neonatal care, including treatments like cooling therapy to manage or mitigate HIE, can result in cerebral palsy.
Prolonged labor and delay in performing cesarean section
Learn how a doctor’s failure to perform a C-section when medically indicated could lead to birth injuries.
What should a doctor or other medical provider do to prevent HIE and cerebral palsy?
Prevention of birth injuries like HIE and cerebral palsy involves timely and appropriate medical interventions, careful monitoring of the baby and mother, and readiness to address complications promptly. When medical professionals make errors in judgment, fail to follow established protocols, or do not act on the signs of distress, it can lead to irreversible consequences like birth injuries for the child.
In cases where medical malpractice is suspected to have caused HIE or cerebral palsy, families may seek legal recourse through a birth injury lawsuit to obtain compensation for medical care, assistive devices, long-term support needs, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
How can a Reno cerebral palsy attorney help with a birth injury lawsuit?
A Reno cerebral palsy attorney can be instrumental in navigating the complexities of a birth injury lawsuit, providing specialized legal support to families affected by cerebral palsy due to medical negligence.
Here’s how they can help:
- Expert case evaluation. A knowledgeable attorney will thoroughly review the medical records and circumstances surrounding the birth injury, offering an expert evaluation to determine if medical negligence occurred. They can identify failures in the standard of care provided by health care professionals during prenatal care, labor, delivery or postnatal care.
- Access to medical experts. Experienced cerebral palsy attorneys in Reno have access to a network of medical experts who can testify about the standard of care expected, how it was breached, and how this breach directly caused the cerebral palsy. These expert testimonies are crucial for establishing the link between medical negligence and the injury.
- Navigating Nevada law. They are well-versed in Nevada’s specific medical malpractice laws, including statutes of limitations and caps on damages, ensuring that legal filings are timely and comply with state requirements. This expertise is essential for successfully navigating the legal system and advocating for the client’s best interests.
- Maximizing compensation. An attorney will accurately calculate the full extent of damages, including past and future medical expenses, therapy costs, special education needs, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering. They aim to secure comprehensive compensation to cover the lifelong needs of the child affected by cerebral palsy.
- Advocating in settlement negotiations and trials. Whether negotiating a settlement with insurance companies or presenting the case at trial, a cerebral palsy attorney will advocate vigorously on your behalf. Their goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for your family, ensuring that your child’s needs are met.
By partnering with a Reno cerebral palsy attorney, families gain a dedicated ally who understands the emotional and financial challenges they face. The attorney’s support allows families to focus on caring for their child while they handle the legal aspects of seeking justice and compensation for the birth injury.
Parent resources for cerebral palsy in Reno
These organizations in Reno offer valuable support and resources for individuals with cerebral palsy and their families, providing a range of services from early intervention and therapy to advocacy and education:
Nevada Early Intervention Services
NEIS provides specialized early intervention programs for babies and young children up to 3 years old who have disabilities or are experiencing developmental delays. Aimed at fostering the development of young children, NEIS’s services focus on enhancing cognitive, physical and social-emotional development.
- Address: 2667 Enterprise Rd, Reno, NV 89512
- Phone: (775) 688-1341
Family TIES of Nevada
Family TIES of Nevada is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides information, support and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities and their families. They offer resources and guidance for navigating health care, education and community services, supporting families affected by cerebral palsy, among other conditions.
- Address: 3100 Mill St, Suite 117, Reno, NV 89502
- Phone: (775) 823-9500
Let experienced Reno birth injury attorney Laura Brown advocate for your family
If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy, HIE or other birth injury was caused by medical negligence in Reno, don’t wait to seek legal advice. Contact Laura Brown at Brown Trial Firm for a free, no-obligation consultation. During this consultation, Laura will listen to your story, answer your questions, and provide you with an honest assessment of your case.
Taking the first step toward justice can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. With Laura Brown’s expertise and compassionate support, you can explore your legal options and decide on the best path forward for your family.
Get started by scheduling your free consultation today.
