Meningitis can progress rapidly, and if it is not treated promptly with appropriate medical intervention, it can lead to serious complications such as brain damage, hearing loss, or death. Notably, mothers can potentially transmit meningitis to their children during pregnancy and before and after childbirth if they carry the bacteria or virus causing the infection. As such, prenatal care, routine screenings, and appropriate interventions during labor, such as administering antibiotics to carriers, are critical to reduce the risk of transmission and protect infants from meningitis-related complications. Tragically, however, many doctors neglect to perform such steps, which ultimately results in infants developing meningitis. If you have questions about your right to recover damages for meningitis your child contracted due to a doctor’s carelessness, it is smart to talk to an attorney. The dedicated Baltimore birth injury attorneys of Arfaa Law Group have extensive experience navigating the complexities of cases against healthcare providers, and if you engage our services, we will diligently pursue the compensation you and your baby deserve.
Harm Caused by MeningitisMeningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections. In infants, meningitis can have severe consequences, leading to developmental delays, hearing loss, or even death. The risks meningitis poses to infants are particularly significant when it is caused by bacterial infections such as Group B Streptococcus (GBS).
Doctors can take preventive measures to reduce the risk of the transmission of meningitis from a mother to a child during pregnancy and childbirth. Prenatal screenings can identify GBS carriers, enabling doctors to implement preventive measures, like administering intravenous antibiotics to GBS-positive mothers during labor, to reduce the risk of bacterial transmission to the newborn. Furthermore, medical professionals can emphasize the importance of maintaining proper hygiene practices, such as regular handwashing, to further minimize the chances of bacterial transmission from the mother to the child.
Lawsuits Seeking Damages for MeningitisTo recover damages for meningitis, the injured party must establish liability, which can be a complex process. At the onset, it usually requires the injured party, or plaintiff, to demonstrate the negligence of the defendant via a medical malpractice lawsuit. To do so, the plaintiff must establish that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to abide by the applicable standard of care, show that the provider breached this standard, prove causation, and demonstrate actual damages.
The standard of care that applies is the treatment that a competent healthcare provider who works in the same field as the defendant would offer when presented with a similar situation. Any acts or omissions that depart from what is considered appropriate under the standard arguably constitute a breach. Causation refers to the connection between the defendant’s deviation from the standard of care and the harm ultimately suffered by the plaintiff. In all but the most obvious of cases, the plaintiff will need to hire a medical expert to clarify the standard of care for the judge or jury, to show the defendant breached the standard, and to illustrate a link between the defendant’s behavior and the plaintiff’s harm.
Assuming a reasonable causal link is established between the defendant’s departure from the standard of care and the infant’s development of meningitis and subsequent losses, the plaintiff should be awarded damages. These damages may include economic losses such as therapy costs, medical bills, rehabilitation, and the lifelong care required for the baby. Furthermore, damages for noneconomic losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life, may also be awarded to the plaintiff.
In situations where meningitis leads to the tragic death of a child, the child’s parents may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Compensation awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit can include funeral and burial costs, medical bills, and loss of services.
Confer With an Experienced Birth Injury Attorney in BaltimoreMeningitis can cause significant harm, but with appropriate interventions, affected expectant mothers can avoid passing it on to their infants during pregnancy or birth. If your child contracted meningitis due to a doctor’s oversights and neglect, it is advisable to confer with an attorney about your options for protecting your interests. The experienced Baltimore birth injury lawyers of Arfaa Law Group dedicate their practice to helping victims of medical negligence, and if you hire us, we will aggressively seek any compensation you may be owed. We have an office in Baltimore, and we regularly represent families in birth injury cases throughout the city. You can contact us through our form online or at 410-889-1850 to arrange a conference.