Suffolk County Birth Injury

Each year thousands of babies are born in the United States with birth injuries. A birth injury is a condition that a baby is born with or that happens shortly after birth. In some cases the condition is the result of improper care of the mother or fetus during pregnancy, while in other cases the improper care occurs during labor and delivery. Some birth injuries are treatable or resolve on their own shortly after birth. Unfortunately, in many other cases the condition is permanent and serious, affecting the child for the rest of his (or her) life. For the parents and other family members, news of a birth injury is emotionally difficult. A birth injury can also mean significant medical bills and financial stress to the family. The Suffolk County birth injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates understand what parents go through when a child is born with an injury and are here to help.

Current statistics report that 27 of every 1,000 births will involve a birth injury. Injury to the child can happen at any stage during the delivery process. Cerebral palsy is one of the most commonly seen birth injuries. This disorder includes a variety of disorders related to the child's muscle coordination and movement. Often these injuries arise when the infant does not get enough oxygen due to a tangled umbilical cord, fetal distress, or the aspiration of meconium. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, seizures, poor muscle control and paralysis.

Other commonly seen birth injuries include:

• Perinatal asphyxia
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
• Sepsis
• Seizure
• Spastic Quadriparesis
• Erb's palsy

Depending on the severity of your child's condition a birth injury may require that your child receive lifelong special care. For example, many conditions will require that your child have multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. In addition, your child may require special assistive technologies such as a motorized wheelchair, special software, modified keyboard, and apps for a tablet or phone.

Birth injuries are often caused by negligence on the part of a doctor or other health care provider. Labor and delivery errors include failure to detect changes in the baby's heart rate and other signs of fetal distress, delay in ordering a C-section, failure to diagnose a birth complication, administering the wrong medication or an improper dose of the correct medication, or improper use of forceps, vacuums or other medical tools. When administered properly anesthesia can help a mother have a more enjoyable, less painful childbirth experience. When a mistake is made in the administration of anesthesia, both the mother and baby may suffer such problems as drug toxicity, jaundice, abnormal heart rate, paralysis, heart attack, stroke or even death. Other errors that result in birth injuries include failure to diagnose or properly treat a pregnancy complication such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, breech pregnancy or umbilical cord complications.

As a birth injury attorney in Suffolk County will explain, if your child suffered a birth injury, your child may be entitled to compensation based on a medical malpractice claim. Such compensation may include past and future medical expenses, loss of future earning capacity and pain and suffering. In addition, if your child has permanent disabilities, he or she may also be entitled to receive social security disability benefits.

After a particular long labor and delivery, Jessica gave birth to son, Carter, at a hospital in Bay Shore. He was delivered by Dr. Jeremy Golick. Soon after he was delivered, Dr. Golick advised Jessica that Carter had a number of serious conditions, including, Erb's palsy, shoulder dystocia, and lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist. When Jessica demanded to know what happened that caused her son's injuries, she was never given a clear answer. As a result of his medical problems Carter suffered permanent disabilities. He is not able to independently complete activities of daily living, and must use therapeutic devices to move around. Jessica filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Dr. Golick, several other medical professionals who were in the delivery room, and the hospital, arguing that they were responsible for Carter's condition.

Birth injuries can leave a family emotionally and financially devastated. Learning that the condition was preventable and caused by the errors of healthcare workers only adds to the emotional pain. If you are concerned that your child's cerebral palsy, or other condition was caused by negligence, do not hesitate to immediately contact an experienced birth injury attorney serving Suffolk County. Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling claims from people injured due to the mistake of a healthcare worker. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.