Maryland Attorney for Severe Jaundice Caused by Birth Complications

If a parent notices that their child has become severely jaundiced, it is reasonable to suspect that this could be indicative of a more severe health issue. There are a few reasons why a child could experience severe jaundice due to a birth complication that may have resulted from a birth injury. If your child appears severely jaundiced after birth, you should consult with an experienced Maryland birth complication attorney for severe jaundice.

Rice, Murtha & Psoras has worked with a number of clients on a wide variety of birth injury claims and would be honored to work with you. We recognize how a birth complication can severely impact a newborn’s life, and we can help you pursue a birth injury lawsuit to recover compensation. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your birth injury claim, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You can also contact the firm online.

Birth Complications that Can Cause Severe Jaundice in Maryland

Jaundice is a medical condition that occurs when the amount of bilirubin in an infant’s bloodstream reaches high amounts. Bilirubin is a yellowish substance that is left behind when red blood cells break down, also referred to as hemolysis. If too much bilirubin remains in the bloodstream because the liver cannot process it all after hemolysis, an infant’s skin or eyes may begin to turn yellow or orange depending on the amount of bilirubin present in the blood.

Bilirubin Encephalopathy

While jaundice is a natural occurrence after a baby is born, severe jaundice can indicate that a baby is experiencing a more severe health issue. Severe jaundice can be indicative of a neurological condition known as bilirubin encephalopathy. Bilirubin encephalopathy happens when excessive amounts of bilirubin begin to aggregate in a child’s brain tissue.

There are various signs and symptoms of bilirubin encephalopathy that a child may exhibit, depending on what stage of the illness the child is experiencing. For example, a child that is in the early stages of bilirubin encephalopathy may show signs of severe lethargy, poor reactions to stimuli, and issues with consuming food. Moderate bilirubin encephalopathy can cause an infant to cry uncontrollably or could cause a child to have a hyperextended back, also known as hypertonia.

The late stages of bilirubin encephalopathy are hazardous because a child may experience seizures, severe muscle stiffness, hypertonia, or could even slip into a coma.

If you notice that your child appears yellow or orange and experiences many of the above symptoms, you should seek immediate medical treatment. If left untreated, bilirubin encephalopathy could cause a number of health issues for a child. If a doctor is able to diagnose the condition within a reasonable time, there is a higher chance that the child could recover.

To learn more about liability for severe jaundice birth injuries, you should continue reading and contact an experienced Maryland birth injury lawyer for severe jaundice.

Liability for Severe Jaundice Birth Complications in Maryland

If your newborn experiences severe jaundice due to the negligent act of a medical practitioner, there are multiple parties that could be held liable for your child’s injuries.

One party that may be held liable for your child’s injuries is the doctor that was in charge of your pregnancy. If a doctor did not take action to correct severe jaundice experienced by a newborn, this could be used as evidence of their negligence.

In some cases, the employer of a doctor could be held liable for a newborn experiencing jaundice and other related injuries. Specifically, a hospital that employs a doctor could be held responsible under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Under this doctrine, the negligent acts of an employee that occur within the scope of their employment can be attributed to an employer. For example, if a doctor fails to diagnose infant jaundice before it causes other health complications, the hospital that employs the doctor could also be liable for this mistake.

Additionally, if other hospital staff played a role in injuring the newborn, they could also be held liable for their negligent actions.

Note, however, that some employers may attempt to avoid liability by hiring certain employees as independent contractors. When an employee is hired as an independent contractor, an employer will have less control over the employee’s everyday actions. As a result, some hospitals may use this caveat to attempt to escape liability.

If your child was a victim of medical malpractice, our firm is here to help you through this difficult time. We can help you build your malpractice claim to seek the compensation you will need for medical bills and various other expenses caused by your child’s condition. Contact our firm today to discuss the details of your case.

Speak with Our Experienced Maryland Lawyer for Severe Jaundice Caused by Birth Complications

If your newborn was a victim of a birth injury that caused severe jaundice, contact a committed Maryland birth complication lawyer for severe jaundice. the legal team at Rice, Murtha & Psoras is here to help you get started on your medical malpractice lawsuit. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal situation, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You can also schedule a consultation using our online submission form.