Bacterial Meningitis

Failing to diagnose bacterial meningitis in a timely manner can lead to devastating, even deadly consequences for a newborn. If your child has suffered harm due to bacterial meningitis that was not identified and treated, you should promptly speak to a Baltimore birth injury attorney who can assess your case. You could be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand that this is a very stressful time, and we will handle the entire legal process for you so that you can focus on caring for your child. Our attorneys have compiled a reputation for excellence that is illustrated by the settlements and verdicts won for our clients in birth injury and other malpractice cases, which include some of the largest of their kind in Maryland history.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bacterial meningitis occurs in approximately 3,000 to 5,000 Americans each year, out of which about 25 percent of cases are fatal. Bacterial meningitis is a medical condition involving the inflammation of meninges, which are membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Unlike viral meningitis, which can clear up on its own, bacterial meningitis can be acute with a quick onset of symptoms. The condition is easily detected and treatable, but it can have serious and devastating consequences when left untreated. In fact, bacterial meningitis attacks nerve and brain function, often causing irreparable harm. Victims could lose their hearing, develop a seizure disorder, suffer diminished cognitive ability, and even experience partial or total paralysis. In the most serious cases, newborns can die as a result of the infection.

Newborn babies are at a much higher risk of developing meningitis than any other age group, due to their immune systems being weak and more susceptible to illness. Doctors, specifically OBGYNs, are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis. Moreover, these doctors are required to perform certain tests and screenings to ensure that both the mother and the child are healthy. One of these tests involves testing a mother for meningitis in the weeks leading up to the birth. If the mother has the condition, she will be given antibiotics to reduce the risk of the baby contracting it during the labor and delivery process. Even if the mother does not have the condition, the doctor should test for it during labor or shortly after birth.

A medical professional who fails to take the appropriate measures to diagnose or treat bacterial meningitis may be liable for malpractice if it resulted in harm to your child. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor causes a preventable injury or death by deviating from the level of care that a prudent medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. To win a Maryland malpractice claim, the plaintiff must show by the greater weight of the evidence that the medical professional was obligated to use a certain level of care, but the medical professional failed to use the required level of care, and the child was harmed as a result.

Children suffering from bacterial meningitis and their families often face high costs of care, and you should not need to face these costs alone when a condition was a result of malpractice. Maryland allows victims of malpractice to recover reimbursement for their medical costs, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, and other damages.

The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life, but it can quickly turn devastating if your child is not healthy. If you believe that your child suffered harm due to malpractice related to bacterial meningitis, you need to contact a medical malpractice lawyer to see if you have options. At Arfaa Law Group, we can explore what happened to your child and assert your right to compensation. We represent people throughout the state of Maryland. To speak to a member of our team at no cost, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.