A parent should never have to be worried that their child will be a victim of medical malpractice. However, there are many cases where a doctor may commit a serious error that can result in an infant being severely injured or developing a harmful medical condition. If your newborn developed infant chorioamnionitis due to the negligence of a medical practitioner, you should consult with an experienced Maryland attorney for infant chorioamnionitis due to a birth injury.
At Bennett & Heyman, we know that an injury to a newborn can significantly impact a family, and we are here to offer you the legal representation needed to manage your birth injury case. You do not have to handle your potential lawsuit without the aid of an experienced Maryland birth injury attorney for infant chorioamnionitis. To schedule your free consultation to discuss your case, contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856. You may also contact the firm online to schedule your appointment.
Common Causes of Infant Chorioamnionitis Birth Injuries in Maryland
Infant chorioamnionitis happens when the membranes of a fetus become inflamed because of a bacterial infection. The infection usually begins in a mother’s urogenital tract, which can then be spread to the infant.
There are a number of factors that could increase the risk of a mother contracting a maternal infection. For example, if a mother has her first pregnancy, this may affect her chances of contracting an infection that causes chorioamnionitis. Here are other risk factors for infant chorioamnionitis:
- Long and difficult labor
- Excessive fetal monitoring
- Mother under the age of 21
- Ruptured membranes
This is not an exhaustive list.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Chorioamnionitis in Infants?
Infant chorioamnionitis can be difficult to diagnose because a mother and an infant could each experience symptoms of the condition. For example, a mother may experience fevers, vaginal discharge, uterine tenderness, maternal leukocytosis, and many other symptoms. Alternatively, an infant may experience the following symptoms:
- Respiratory issues
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues
- Issues with fatigue and sucking
- Seizures
If left untreated, an infant could develop other serious issues such as bone infections or brain abscesses. Our firm could help you pursue compensation if your child developed these conditions due to the actions of a doctor.
A medical practitioner handling a mother’s pregnancy should be sure to monitor the health of the mother and the fetus. Unfortunately, some doctors may fail to notice and diagnose a mother with an infection that could lead to infant chorioamnionitis. When this happens, a doctor could be held liable for their negligence.
To learn more about filing a lawsuit against a doctor responsible for your child’s injuries, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Maryland birth injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Proving Your Doctor is Liable for Infant Chorioamnionitis Birth Injuries in Maryland
When a doctor fails to diagnose a mother or infant with chorioamnionitis, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. When pursuing a medical practitioner for malpractice, you will have to show how the doctor’s negligence failed to uphold the standard of care. This means that the doctor did not provide the medical care that is common within their field.
When proving negligence, a plaintiff will need evidence to prove their claims. For example, a plaintiff may present a medical expert witness to speak about how negligence could have been committed. However, the plaintiff cannot prevail unless they prove the following four elements:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
- The defendant breached their duty of care
- The plaintiff was injured due to the defendant’s breach of duty
- The plaintiff’s injuries and losses can be compensated in a court of law
It is important to note that there could be multiple defendants that can be held liable in a medical malpractice claim. For example, a hospital could be held vicariously liable for the actions of a doctor. Additionally, a nurse may also be liable if she contributed to the injury of the newborn.
Recoverable Damages for Infant Chorioamnionitis
If you prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor or hospital responsible for your child’s injuries, you could be awarded compensatory damages. Compensatory damages can be divided into economic and noneconomic losses. For example, an economic loss is typically tied to a financial burden that arose due to the medical malpractice.
The following are damages that can be awarded in a medical malpractice claim:
- Medical expense and future medical expenses
- Damages for medical equipment, prescriptions, treatments
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
This is not an exhaustive list. Bennett & Heyman understand the stress a family can experience when caring for a newborn who was injured due to malpractice, and we would like to offer you our legal services. We can help you explore your options when seeking compensation for your child’s injuries. Please do not delay in speaking with an attorney as it could possibly impact your case.
Contact Our Skilled Maryland Lawyer for Infant Chorioamnionitis Caused by Birth Injury
If your infant was injured due to the actions of a medical practitioner, you should speak with an experienced Maryland lawyer for infant chorioamnionitis. The skilled birth injury lawyers at Bennett & Heyman possess years of experience litigating birth injury lawsuits, and we are here to offer you the legal representation that you deserve. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your case with our Baltimore birth injury attorneys, contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856. You may also contact us online to schedule your consultation.
