A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. When this happens, brain cells die, leading to brain damage. While strokes are commonly associated with older adults, unborn babies can also have strokes. When an unborn baby has a stroke, it is referred to as a fetal stroke or a prenatal stroke. The complications of a fetal stroke can include cerebral palsy and epilepsy. There are a variety of factors that can lead to a fetal stroke. When a family is faced with the news that their baby suffered a fetal stroke, they want answers. The experienced New York fetal stroke attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates are committed to helping families facing the challenges of caring for seriously injured children. If you believe that your baby’s fetal stroke and subsequent brain damage was caused by a negligent doctor or hospital, we can help ensure that your legal rights are protected, and that you receive just compensation for your child’s injuries.
Causes of fetal strokesJust like strokes in adults, a fetal stroke is caused a blockage of blood to the brain. This can be caused by a blood clot. It can also be caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, which is a shortage of oxygen to the brain. Other risk factors for fetal stroke include preeclampsia, placenta detachment, gestational diabetes, trauma to the head during delivery caused by forceps or vacuum extractor, and umbilical cord problems.
It is imperative that a doctor understand the risk factors for fetal stroke, and carefully monitor the fetus in order to quickly respond should a fetal stroke occur. While negligence on the part of the doctor or other medical staff is not always a contributing factor for a fetal stroke, slow response to a fetal stroke on the part of a doctor can lead to the baby suffering avoidable complications.
Complications related to fetal strokes include:As with adults, treating a stroke quickly minimizes permanent brain damage. In the case of a fetal stroke, it is not unusual for there to be a delay in diagnosis of over 24 hours. Thus, as a New York fetal stroke attorney will explain, if your doctor failed to recognize the signs of a fetal stroke causing a delay in treatment, the delay in treatment may the grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Pursuing compensationAn experienced fetal stroke attorney in New York understands all too well the emotional and financial toll that caring for a seriously injured child takes on the child’s family. You want your child to have the best possible care, but you are concerned about how you are going to pay for it. If your child’s condition was caused by the negligence of a medical professional, you have the right to file a claim against the negligent doctor and demand compensation that will cover your child’s medical expenses and your other losses. In the case of a fetal stroke, the claim may be based on something your doctor did that caused the stroke. For example, the negligent use of forceps can cause blood clots to form inside the baby’s blood vessel. This can lead to a fetal stroke. A claim can also be based on the doctor’s delayed diagnosis of the fetal stroke.
Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesIf your child has a serious birth injury such as cerebral palsy as a result of a fetal stroke, and you suspect that your doctor’s negligence contributed to your baby’s condition, you need experienced representation. The fetal stroke attorneys serving New York at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have the experience, knowledge, and resources to help. 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.