Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of Newborn (PPHN)

Birth injuries may have long-term consequences for a child’s life. If your child suffered from persistent pulmonary hypertension due to a doctor’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Dedicated Baltimore birth injury lawyer Julia Arfaa can review the details of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. Our team knows how to thoroughly investigate these types of claims and hold accountable a wide range of health care providers.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) is a rare, life-threatening congenital heart defect that may cause both immediate and long-term complications and health hazards. When a baby is in the womb, they receive oxygen through the placenta. After birth, the baby receives oxygen from the lungs. The condition occurs when the infant’s body does not adjust to breathing air after birth, causing the baby’s blood to bypass the lungs and sending the blood back to the heart in an oxygen-poor state. A lack of oxygen flow to the brain and other organs may cause serious health problems for a baby. Infant death may even take place in severe cases of PPHN, although with immediate medical intervention, the chances of death are significantly lowered.

While PPHN is not common, it may severely compromise a newborn child’s health and may have long-term consequences for that child’s life. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, at least one out of every 500 to 700 infants will develop persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn. While there is nothing that physicians can do to prevent PPHN, medical professionals should keep an eye out for the condition. Doctors are trained to recognize signs and symptoms of PPHN. If it is present, the doctor should immediately treat the condition.

If your newborn suffered an injury or health complication as a result of PPHN, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional injures a patient by providing treatment that is below the applicable standard of care, according to their specific area of practice. In the context of improperly treated PPHN, you may establish medical malpractice by showing that the medical professional owed your child a duty of care, the medical professional breached the duty of care owed to your child, and the medical professional’s breach was a direct cause of your newborn’s PPHN injuries.

In Maryland, there are certain requirements that must be met when it comes to medical malpractice cases. Within 90 days of filing a medical malpractice claim with the Health Claims Arbitration Office, a claimant is required to provide a certificate from a qualified expert, stating that the defendant violated the medical standard of care and that this violation was a direct and proximate cause of the patient’s injury. The expert must meet certain qualification requirements imposed by Maryland law. Generally, the expert will be a medical professional in the same specialty as the defendant.

As with any other type of personal injury case, medical malpractice claims must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. Failing to file within the applicable statute of limitations likely will mean losing your right to compensation altogether. This is why it is important to hire an attorney who is experienced and understands the importance of certain deadlines in medical malpractice cases.

If your baby was born with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn, and you believe that the condition was caused by a doctor’s carelessness, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, Baltimore attorney Julia Arfaa can evaluate the facts of your case and determine the potential grounds for a claim. Medical malpractice cases are generally complex, and having a detail-oriented attorney on your side may make a critical difference in your case. We represent people who need a medical malpractice lawyer throughout the State of Maryland. To set up a free appointment, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.