If your baby has been diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), you should not delay in reaching out to a diligent Baltimore birth injury attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we can help you determine whether or not malpractice may have played a role in the development of your child’s ROP. If it did, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. Attorney Julia Arfaa has extensive experience in handling birth injury lawsuits based on ROP and other conditions, so you can trust that you are in good hands.
Understanding the Harm Caused by Retinopathy of PrematurityRetinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of child blindness throughout the world. ROP is the second-highest cause of blindness in the United States, affecting approximately 15,000 premature babies each year. The condition of ROP occurs when an abnormal growth of blood vessels in an infant’s eyes develops as a result of a lack of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in scar tissue in the eye, vision impairment, and, in the most severe cases, blindness. The illness mainly affects infants born prior to 32 weeks of gestation and weighing less than three pounds.
In some cases, unfortunately, medical mistakes may result in ROP. Physicians have a duty to monitor each premature infant for the development of ROP, which may involve properly controlling the baby’s oxygen level, performing eye surgery immediately to stop the condition from worsening, monitoring the development of blood vessels in the eyes, and taking preventative measures if there are any signs of ROP. If you believe that your physician failed to prevent or promptly diagnose ROP, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against that physician.
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or another health care provider causes harm to a patient by failing to uphold the standard of care that another doctor or health care provider in the same specialty would have used in similar circumstances. Put simply, it is a viable claim when a medical professional acts in an incompetent manner and ends up causing harm to the patient. These types of cases are time-sensitive, so if you think that you may have a claim, it is important to act as soon as possible. You should also be aware that building a medical malpractice case is often complex, and an experienced attorney may make a key difference in your case.
If medical malpractice was the cause of retinopathy of prematurity, a baby and their family may be entitled to various types of compensation, including past and ongoing medical bills, disability, pain and suffering, and the future cost of care. Ultimately, the severity of the infant’s condition will determine the amount of compensation that they will receive in a malpractice case.
Seek Guidance from a Birth Injury Lawyer in Baltimore or Elsewhere in MarylandIf your baby has been diagnosed with ROP, you should reach out to Baltimore attorney Julia Arfaa and Arfaa Law Group. We can investigate the events leading to your baby’s injuries to determine whether a medical professional’s negligence likely was responsible. We represent people across the State of Maryland. For a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.