How Can Medical Malpractice Lead to Brain Injury?
One of the most common situations in which medical negligence leads to permanent brain damage is in birth injury cases. In these cases, medical professionals can fail to perform their duties at the accepted standard of care - for example, improperly monitoring and responding to fetal distress. If an infant is suffering from hypoxia or anoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) and the doctor responds inappropriately, that infant can sustain permanent brain damage, which in turn can cause cerebral palsy and other disorders. Traumatic birth injuries such as skull fractures or brain bleeding (often from inappropriate use of forceps or force) can also quickly lead to brain damage.
Brain injury can also result from:
- Diabetic coma
- Anesthesia errors
- Stroke misdiagnosis
- Heart attack misdiagnosis
- Poor use of labor-inducing medication
How Oxygen Deprivation Can Lead To Brain Injury
In childbirth, complications can occur during pregnancy or delivery which can lead to a lack of oxygen to fetal circulation compromising the newborn brain. In some instances several serious problems may arise during delivery leading to catastrophic events. One of these is severe hypoxia or a reduction in the amount of oxygen being delivered to the brain. When this occurs, the fetus is being deprived of precious oxygen required to sustain brain function. During the delivery process there are various recognizable conditions which can result in oxygen deprivation. From umbilical cord entanglements such as a “tight nuchal” cord which wraps around the baby’s neck, prolapsed cord, pinched cord due to extended labor and / or placental abruption when the placenta tears away from the mother’s womb, these serious events can cause serious brain injury to the newborn or subsequent death.
It is the job of healthcare professionals to provide adequate maternal and fetal monitoring throughout the course of pre-labor, labor and the birthing process to avoid these types of catastrophic brain injuries from occurring.
In adults, prolonged oxygen deprivation can result from numerous medical conditions which may go unrecognized by healthcare providers such as hypoxia to the brain from inaccurate delivery of anesthesia during surgery or various other types of medication error. It may also be the result of a serious traumatic brain event such as an automobile accident or the results of a product design defect in scuba diving oxygen regulator which leads to a serious hypoxic event.
Oxygen deprivation in adults can lead to long-term brain injuries that may affect cognitive abilities, behavioral disorders, confusion, possible seizures and death. Hypoxia is very serious. In infants and children oxygen deprivation may lead to cerebral palsy, which can impact the child and family members for the rest of their lives.
No matter the case, if treatment for oxygen deprivation is not provided as soon as possible, the injured individual’s brain may be severely and permanently damaged. It is heartbreaking when the injury is caused by someone else’s negligence could have been preventable.
When someone sustains any serious injury, it can be difficult to endure. But when an individual suffers a brain injury, it can be an overwhelming and life-altering experience not only for the injured person but for his or her loved ones as well. Catastrophic injuries from lack of oxygen can lead to long-term emotional stress, physical limitations and financial ruin. In fact, many clients with these types of injuries amass millions of dollars in medical bills.
If someone you love was harmed because of oxygen deprivation as a result of negligence, you may be able to take legal action. Our Florida brain injury attorneys at Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Prather & Littky-Rubin are ready to help. Our team guides the families of individuals who have been harmed by negligence or recklessness through the complex process of filing an injury claim. We take the time to get to know you in order to prepare your case and aggressively fight to obtain optional results for you.
Experience You Can Trust
With over 200 years of experience, it's easy to see why you should rely on us.
Meet Our TeamClark Fountain—We Fight for You
Our West Palm Beach medical malpractice attorneys have a history of helping the families of brain-injured individuals hold doctors accountable for the harm they cause. Our work helps them receive the support and financial resources they need to take care of their loved ones in the way they deserve, without being limited by their own finances. Our work also helps families provide for lost earning capacity and emotional suffering that accompanies brain injury.
Clients trust our firm for their cases because we:
- Have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients
- Have more than 200 years of combined experience
- Have board certification in a variety of practice areas
- Take on complex cases other attorneys often avoid
- Resolve cases for clients no matter how long it takes
- Have the resources to advance 100% of the costs of litigation for clients
We obtain no fee unless our clients receive compensation first—call (561) 922-0258 for a free legal consultation today.
