Baltimore Neonatal Sepsis Lawyer
Sepsis is an infection that is present in the blood and regardless of who suffers from it, it is an extremely dangerous condition. When a newborn suffers from sepsis, it poses even more risks. People do not always consider that newborns can suffer from sepsis just like anyone else, but the truth is, the condition is more common in infants than many people think. Newborns can suffer from an infection and when it is not treated properly, it can quickly develop into sepsis and even lead to sepsis shock. These conditions are life-threatening, particularly when they affect a newborn who is extremely fragile.
When neonatal sepsis is a cause of negligent care, it can result in birth injuries that are permanent and catastrophic. If your child has suffered from neonatal sepsis, it is important to speak to a Baltimore neonatal sepsis lawyer who can help you claim the maximum damages you deserve.
How Do Newborns Acquire Sepsis?
There are two main ways a newborn can acquire sepsis. The first is through vertical transmission, which is when the mother passes it to the newborn shortly before or during the birthing process. The second way newborns can acquire sepsis is known as horizontal transmission. This occurs when a newborn acquires sepsis through contact with other people after they are born, such as healthcare workers, caregivers, and even their surrounding environment.
Risks of Neonatal Sepsis
Neonatal sepsis poses many risks for newborns. Children who have just been born will have many more difficulties fighting an infection than an adult or even an older child. The complications for newborns as a result of sepsis are serious and at times, the damage is irreversible. Some of the most common complications of neonatal sepsis are as follows:
- Respiratory distress
- Septic shock
- Meningitis
- Difficulty feeding
- Encephalitis
- Bradycardia
- Neonatal seizures
- Apnea
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Epilepsy
- wrongful death
When is Neonatal Sepsis Medical Malpractice?
When neonatal sepsis is caused by negligence on the part of healthcare professionals, it is considered medical malpractice. Some examples of negligence that can result in neonatal sepsis include:
- Failure to test for certain infections, such as Group B Streptococcus before delivery
- Failure to treat a maternal infection before birth
- Failure to perform a C-section on a woman whose water broke six hours prior
- Failure to identify and treat an infection in a newborn, which caused it to escalate to sepsis
- Failing to sterilize equipment prior to a C-section
- Failure to adhere to certain standards prior to handling a newborn, such as washing hands
- Not delivering a baby within 24 hours after the mother’s water had broken, placing the newborn at increased risk of infection
When healthcare professionals commit the type of medical malpractice mentioned above, it is important to hold them liable. This will not only ensure you recover the financial compensation you deserve, but also that it does not happen to any other family.
Call Our Birth Injury Lawyer in Baltimore Today
If your child developed neonatal sepsis before or after birth, our Baltimore birth injury lawyer at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, can help your family claim the full damages you deserve. Call us today at 410.567.0800 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to obtain the sound legal advice you need.
