When an umbilical cord gets wrapped around the neck of a fetus, a condition known as “nuchal cord” occurs, and the baby may be at risk for a serious injury or even death. The risk of umbilical cord strangulation is a reality in any pregnancy. As a result, health care providers have an obligation to be vigilant and keep a close eye on the situation. If your baby was harmed due to this condition, it is important to seek the help of a skilled Baltimore birth injury attorney who has the experience and resources to handle your case.
Bringing a Claim Based on a Nuchal Cord Birth InjuryAs mentioned earlier, a nuchal cord injury takes place when the umbilical cord wraps around the fetus’ neck, which may reduce oxygen delivery and blood flow to the baby. This condition affects approximately 25 percent of newborns. A failure to recognize and address nuchal cords may cause lifelong brain damage from a lack of oxygen. Nuchal cord injuries may be classified in one of two ways:
Type A Nuchal Cord, which is when the cord is loosely wrapped around the baby’s neck and can be corrected easily prior to or during delivery.
Type B Nuchal Cord, which is when the cord has formed a knot and cannot be untangled. In such instances, close monitoring is crucial to detect fetal distress, and an emergency C-section may be needed if the child’s life is threatened.
To determine if medical negligence played a role in your baby’s harm, we can carefully examine the facts of your case, including any signs of fetal distress that may have been overlooked. Under Maryland law, medical malpractice takes place when a health care professional causes harm by deviating from the standard of care that would have been met by a competent, similarly situated health care professional in the same specialty as the defendant. Medical malpractice claims may arise from a medical professional’s careless actions or from a failure to act when it would have been appropriate. In these lawsuits, expert witnesses typically offer testimony regarding the standard of care that applies in the case, as well as how the defendant failed to live up to the standard of care and how these actions caused the resulting injury.
Depending on the extent of the child’s condition, it may be extremely costly to treat. Birth injury victims are allowed to seek compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and more. Maryland allows plaintiffs to recover both economic and non-economic damages, although there is a cap on non-economic damages.
Contact a Birth Injury Attorney in Baltimore or BeyondIf a preventable birth injury was the source of your child's harm, it is important to seek the help and guidance of a skilled medical malpractice attorney who can assess the facts of your case. With years of experience, we have provided people across the state of Maryland with aggressive and reliable representation at every step of the process and can do the same for you. Call 410-889-1850 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with a Baltimore birth injury lawyer.