New York Rh-ABO Incompatibility

As a skilled New York Rh-ABO incompatibility lawyer will explain, one of the most important tests given to a pregnant woman is a test to determine blood type and Rh factor. In fact, it is typically one of the first tests that doctor gives a pregnant woman as it is important to determine whether there is an incompatibility with the baby’s blood. If there is an Rh incompatibility, the mother’s antibodies will destroy the baby’s red blood cells, resulting in jaundice. An ABO incompatibility occurs when the mother’s blood type is O, and the baby’s blood type is A or B. If there is an ABO incompatibility, the baby may suffer from anemia. These complications are typically easily avoided with a blood test. If your baby suffered a serious birth injury because your doctor failed to properly manage blood incompatibility, immediately contact an experienced New York Rh-ABO incompatibility lawyer who will carefully review your medical records and explain your legal options.

Complications associated with Rh and ABO incompatibility include:

• Jaundice. Jaundice is a condition that results from high levels of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. If the baby’s Rh and the mother’s Rh are incompatible, the mother’s antibodies fight the baby’s, causing a destruction of the baby’s red blood cells. The destruction of red blood cells can leads to the production of bilirubin. While jaundice is typically treatable using phototherapy, if untreated or improperly treated, bilirubin levels can continue to rise. This can lead to hyperbilirubinemia which is a potentially life-threatened brain injury.
• Anemia. A complication associated with ABO incompatibility is anemia. Anemia is a condition marked by insufficient red blood cells. The anemia is caused by the baby’s red blood cells being attacked by the mother’s antibodies. Fetal anemia can be quite serious, leading to brain damage or still birth.

If the doctor performs the blood test and learns of the incompatibility, treatment includes an injection of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) during the 28th week of pregnancy and 72 hours after delivery. This will reduce the likelihood of complications. If the antibodies have already formed, the baby will need a transfusion.

One of the first tests that a doctor should administer to a pregnant woman is a blood test to determine the mother’s compatibility with the baby. If the mother’s Rh is negative and the baby’s Rh is positive, serious complications can arise. Failure of the doctor to run the blood test to determine where the baby’s blood and the mother’s blood are incompatible would be contrary to what a competent doctor would do and thus, would be negligent. In addition, as a Rh-ABO incompatibility attorney in New York will explain, if your doctor did perform the blood test and confirmed blood incompatibility, yet failed to give you the Rh immunoglobulin (RhIg) shot at the appropriate time, your doctor would still have been negligent. If you child suffered a serious injury because of this negligence, you have the right to file a medical malpractice claim and demand damages for your child’s medical bills and other losses suffered by you and your baby.

If your baby suffered a severe injury such as brain damage due to blood incompatibility, it is important that you have experienced representation. Medical professionals accused of medical malpractice often do now want to admit liability. If they do offer a settlement, there is a good chance that the offer will not be favorable to you. This is why it is critical that you are represented by a skilled Rh-ABO incompatibility attorney serving New York. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates is experienced in successfully representing clients who have suffered injuries due to mistakes made by medical professionals. 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.