Perinatal asphyxia, also known as birth asphyxia, occurs when an infant is deprived of oxygen before, during or shortly after birth. It is a medical emergency that can result in severe brain and organ damage if not addressed right away. If a health care provider’s preventable mistake resulted in perinatal asphyxia during your child’s birth, consulting a birth injury lawyer in Minneapolis can help you determine if you have grounds for a claim.
What Is Perinatal Asphyxia?
Perinatal asphyxia describes a lack of oxygen reaching an infant’s bloodstream during the labor or delivery processes. It is a neurological condition that can happen if an infant is deprived of oxygen long enough to cause harm.
Many negative health outcomes can arise from birth asphyxia, including:
- Hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood)
- Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in the body)
- Anoxia (complete oxygen deprivation)
- Brain damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Epilepsy
- Organ damage
- Hearing or vision loss
- Permanent disability
- Fetal death
The signs of birth asphyxia in a newborn include bluish skin color, reduced heart rate, low muscle tone, weak breathing, and – as the infant develops – signs of neurological problems or cognitive deficits.
What Causes Perinatal Asphyxia?
Birth asphyxia can happen for many reasons during a difficult birth or shortly after. Certain birth complications, such as the infant getting stuck in the birth canal or umbilical cord issues, can cut off the infant’s oxygen supply.
Not all perinatal asphyxia cases are medical malpractice. Sometimes, an infant loses their supply of oxygen due to natural birth complications. If a physician does not react appropriately to this emergency situation, however, they can face liability.
Is Perinatal Asphyxia a Sign of Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice refers to a health care professional falling short of the required standard of care within the medical industry. When this results in harm to a patient, the victim has the right to file a medical malpractice claim in Minneapolis to be made whole again.
A case of perinatal asphyxia could lead to a medical malpractice claim if there is evidence that the physician or nurse owed the victim a duty of care, breached or violated this duty, caused the infant’s injury, and that the victim suffered compensable losses as a result.
Medical errors that can result in birth asphyxia include labor and delivery mismanagement, failure to order an emergency C-section, incorrect use of forceps or vacuums, failure to monitor for signs of fetal distress, medication mistakes, misdiagnoses, and inadequate infant resuscitation efforts.
When Should I Contact an Attorney?
If your child suffered harm due to a case of perinatal asphyxia, contact an attorney about a potential legal claim as soon as possible. Strict time limits known as statutes of limitations apply to these cases. In Minnesota, for example, medical malpractice claims must be filed no later than four years from the date that the malpractice occurred.
A birth injury lawyer can evaluate your case to determine if medical negligence contributed to the perinatal asphyxia. If so, your lawyer can gather evidence and file a claim on your behalf. This includes hiring medical and birth injury experts to testify during your case. With help from an attorney at Goldenberg Lauricella, your family can get justice, answers and peace of mind in the aftermath of a traumatic birth injury.