The birth of a newborn should be an experience that a family is happy to share with others. However, this joyous occasion can quickly go wrong if a doctor fails to act responsibly when caring for a newborn. In some cases, a doctor’s negligent actions could lead to severe or life-threatening injuries for a newborn. If your child developed persistent pulmonary hypertension due to medical malpractice, you should consult with an experienced Maryland birth injury attorney for persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn.
At Bennett & Heyman, we are committed to working with our clients to determine the appropriate options to handle their birth injury cases. We understand the trauma that may come with learning your child was injured at birth, and we are here to stand with you. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss the details of your potential lawsuit, contact the Maryland lawyers for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn at Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856. You may also contact the firm online to schedule your free consultation.
How to Know If Your Newborn Has Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a medical condition where an infant receives insufficient blood flow to their lungs after they are delivered. After being delivered, it is normal for an infant’s blood pressure to drop, which will allow the baby to learn how to breathe outside of the womb. Unfortunately, a child that is experiencing PPHN will have difficulty with this process and could instead continue to breathe on a fetal circulation cycle. This is dangerous as the infant’s blood will skip over the lungs, causing them to suffocate.
There are various signs and symptoms associated with a newborn experiencing PPHN. For example, if a newborn appears to have a bluish hue to their skin, this could be caused by PPHN. There are other common signs and symptoms that may indicate a child has PPHN:
- The child appears to be sick after the delivery
- Abnormal breathing
- Abnormal heart rate
- Infant’s heart rate is low even after receiving oxygen
It is important to note that a child could experience all of the above symptoms, or they may only experience certain symptoms.
If your child is experiencing PPHN, your doctor should take steps to ensure that your child is receiving the oxygen they need to survive. For example, the medical staff should provide oxygen and monitor the baby’s vitals around-the-clock. Additionally, a doctor should also take the following steps:
- Avoiding invasive procedures
- Ensure the child maintains healthy blood pressure
- Offer nutritional support for the child
- Monitor glucose and electrolyte levels
This is not an exhaustive list.
If your child was a victim of medical malpractice, our firm could help you seek the compensation that you deserve. If you wish to know more about when to file your medical malpractice lawsuit in Maryland, you should consult with an experienced Maryland birth injury attorney as soon as possible.
Maryland Statute of Limitations for Birth Injury Lawsuits Involving Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn
No parent should ever have to discover that a doctor’s negligence caused an injury to their child. If a doctor observes that a child has PPHN, and they fail to act to save the child, they should be held liable for their actions. Fortunately, you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor that caused your child’s injuries. However, you should know that you only have a limited amount of time to file your potential lawsuit.
The statute of limitations determines how long a person has to file a civil lawsuit with a court of law. However, each state does not have uniform statutes of limitations. This means that you should never assume that a filing deadline in one state will be the same in a different state. Additionally, the filing deadline within a state can change depending on the circumstances of a case. As a result, it would be wise to avoid estimating the date of your filing deadline without consulting a Maryland attorney first.
In Maryland, the statute of limitations for a birth injury is five years from the date of the injury. However, if the victim did not discover the injury until a later date, the victim will have three years from the date of discovery to file their case. If you do not file your case within these time limits, you will be barred from pursuing compensation in a court of law, which can be devastating if you needed damages to pay for medical expenses and other needs.
It is also important to note that minors that were injured would be provided with a longer amount of time to file their case. Specifically, if a child under the age of 11 was a victim of a birth injury, the statute of limitations would not begin to run until they reach the age of 11. Fortunately, the parents or legal guardians of the child can file a birth injury lawsuit on behalf of the child.
Our Baltimore birth injury lawyers can help you weigh your options and get your case timely filed with a court of law.
Speak with Our Dedicated Maryland Lawyer for Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn
If your newborn developed persistent pulmonary hypertension due to the medical malpractice, contact a committed Maryland birth injury lawyer for persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn. Our dedicated birth injury lawyers possess years of experience litigating complex malpractice suits, and we would be pleased to represent you. You do not have to litigate your malpractice lawsuit alone; contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856 to schedule your free legal case evaluation. You may also contact the firm online to schedule your appointment.
