Preterm Birth

The birth of a baby is supposed to be one of the most joyous occasions in your life, but it may quickly become very stressful if the baby’s health is at risk. If your child sustained injuries as a result of a preterm birth, it is important to speak to a Baltimore birth injury attorney who can explore the facts of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we can carefully determine the cause of any harm that happened during the preterm labor process and provide you with an honest assessment of whether you may have a claim.

A baby is considered full term when they are born between the 37th and the 40th week of gestation. When a baby is born between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, they are considered preterm. While a baby is generally viable after 24 weeks, meaning that they can survive outside the womb, premature babies are often at risk for a number of health complications, such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, vision and hearing loss, digestive injuries, respiratory problems, and even death.

Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, may be a result of a medical professional’s negligence. A failure to prevent preterm labor, for instance, may be a result of the negligence of a physician during a woman’s pregnancy. Once preterm labor begins, negligent care during labor and delivery may also cause an injury to a mother or child.

In Maryland, medical malpractice claims are rooted in the theory of negligence. In these cases, a plaintiff must show that the health care provider being sued deviated from the accepted standard of care and that this deviation was a direct cause of the patient’s injury or death. The deviation from the accepted standard of care is also known in legal terms as a breach of duty. Medical malpractice cases rely heavily on expert testimony surrounding the appropriate level of care and the actions by the defendant that may have violated it. As a result, it is important to work with a birth injury attorney who will be diligent in conducting an investigation to determine what likely happened.

Maryland plaintiffs may recover both economic and non-economic damages in malpractice cases. Economic damages refer to tangible monetary losses, such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost income. Non-economic damages refer to losses that are harder to quantify, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium.

If your preterm labor resulted in complications, you may be entitled to compensation for your child’s injuries. At Arfaa Law Group, Baltimore birth injury attorney Julia Arfaa is committed to holding negligent medical professionals responsible for the harm that they cause. We represent people throughout the state of Maryland in all types of medical malpractice claims. To discuss your case in more detail with a medical malpractice attorney, you can call 410-889-1850 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.