Birth Defects Attorneys: Timetable to Follow Up With Doctors After Surgery

After a cleft lip/cleft palate surgery, it is important to listen to your doctor’s guidelines and follow up based on the doctor’s instructions. Just like you regularly would check in with your birth defects attorneys, it is very important to check up with the medical team at the appropriate intervals. Your child is likely going to be in some pain after the surgery, and he or she needs to be given the appropriate time to heal before follow-up work is done. As always, follow your doctor’s instructions for the safest and most optimal recovery.

Follow Up Visits

Once your child is discharged, there are typically two follow up dates that are required. The first visit should be at seven to ten days after surgery. The second appointment should usually be at about three weeks after the surgery. Finally, if there happens to be a wound breakdown, it is usually advisable to wait at least six months after surgery to attempt to close it. This is because blood supply needs to be reestablished to the tissues.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many parents who have children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are often overwhelmed and, in some instances, confused about their legal rights. They are especially confused about whether or not the services of birth defects attorneys would be needed. In some cases, there have been improper actions that may have led to your child’s birth defect and contacting birth defects attorneys is beneficial to your family’s physical and financial health. For example, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate), taken during pregnancy or during child-bearing years, has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and cleft palates. We are able to assist parents dealing with these issues. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Did you know? Birth Injury From Shoulder Dystocia Can Be Avoided

Shoulder dystocia occurs when, after the delivery of the baby’s head, the baby’s anterior shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone. When this happens, the remainder of the baby’s body cannot easily be delivered vaginally. Shoulder dystocia can lead to permanent birth injuries, such as brachial plexus nerve injuries, fractured clavicles, and birth asphyxia.

How Does a Doc Know it’s Shoulder Dystocia?

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys shoulder dystocia birth injuryBirth injury due to shoulder dystocia can be reduced by proper, non-negligent care by an obstetrician. One of the most important things the obstetrician must do is to recognize shoulder dystocia when it is happening. A sure sign that shoulder dystocia could be complicating the birthing process is when the baby’s body does not emerge with the typical pushing and standard movements normally used by the obstetrician to facilitate the birth. Another indicator is the “turtle sign”. This is when the baby’s head emerges and then retracts back like a turtle pulling back into its shell. This retraction occurs because the baby’s anterior shoulder is stuck. When shoulder dystocia has been determined, a backup obstetrician should be called and the delivery team should ready themselves for any possible complications.

There are also a few specific obstetrical maneuvers that have proven beneficial, and they should carefully be employed. It is important that the obstetrician recognize the shoulder dystocia issue, be knowledgeable in the different appropriate maneuvers to attempt to remove the shoulder dystocia, and then implement these maneuvers in a controlled, careful manner. Failing to follow these important recommendations, and failing to properly use and try the different approved maneuvers, can be seen as negligence on the part of the obstetrician. The obstetrician’s negligence that causes permanent injury to baby is negligence that should be compensated.

Birth Injury and Shoulder Dystocia Attorneys in NJ and PA

If your child was injured at birth and you now have questions regarding your legal rights, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let our experienced team answer any questions you may have.

Shoulder Dystocia: Preventing Delivery Room Negligence

new jersey philadelphia birth Injury attorneys Shoulder DystociaShoulder dystocia is a complication that occurs during vaginal delivery. It happens when the baby’s head has been delivered, but the anterior shoulder is now stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone. This makes it difficult for the baby to naturally proceed out of the birthing canal without some help from the obstetrician.

Approximately 20% of babies that have shoulder dystocia at birth will suffer some sort of birth injury. This birth injury can be either temporary or permanent. The most common birth injuries that occur are damage to the brachial plexus nerves, as well as injuries including breaks of clavicles, humerus bones, and other contusions and lacerations. Birth asphyxia is also a birth injury that can occur and can cause permanent neurological disabilities.

Can Shoulder Dystocia Be Avoided?

The best way to prevent these complications is to prevent shoulder dystocia from occurring. This is where the obstetrician comes into play. Although, this can’t always be prevented, a knowledgeable obstetrician may be able to determine, due to the baby’s size, position and other factors, that shoulder dystocia is a possibility. If so, other delivery options may need to be discussed. Being prepared in the case of shoulder dystocia is extremely important. If a baby is injured due to the negligence of the physician, then the physician should be held liable for any injuries that occur.

Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As birth injury attorneys in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we will help families that have been affected by birth injuries. If your child was injured at birth, and you now have questions concerning your legal rights, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia for a free consultation.
Let the experienced medical malpractice and birth injury attorneys answer any questions you may have.

Birth Defects Lawyers Win Large verdict for Delivery Room Negligence

A $2.3 million dollar verdict for a birth injury case was awarded to a Virginia attorney and his client. In 2006, the negligence of a midwife hired by a woman’s obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) caused permanent nerve damage to her baby boy’s arm. The attorney for the boy showed that the negligence that occurred during delivery occurred during the birth due to shoulder dystocia.

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defects Attorneys negligence Shoulder DystociaShoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind a mother’s pubic bone. In order to avoid injury, certain changes must be made during delivery. Birth injuries arising from the improper delivery of a baby with shoulder dystocia can be permanent. In the case of the Virginia boy, it was shown that the nerve damage caused him permanent disablement of his right arm. He may need assistance for simple tasks for the rest of life, and may not be able to do many of the typical activities of childhood due to the birth injury he received.

The verdict the attorney gained for the boy will help him receive the special assistance and training he needs due to the negligent birth injury he received at birth. The jury also awarded an additional $60,000 to reimburse medical expenses that the mother as acquired. Such birth injuries can be compared to injuries caused by auto accidents, they cause life changing challenges for the baby, just as he or she is entering into the world.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was injured at birth and you now have questions regarding your legal rights, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the experienced medical malpractice and birth injury attorneys answer any questions you may have.

Birth Injury Attorneys Earn Large Verdict in New Jersey

The Jersey Journal reported yesterday on a birth injury settlement that took place in Bayonne, New Jersey. The settlement was for $8.5 million dollars and went to the Ordonez family, after negligence caused their son to be born with brain damage, and therefore suffer permanent disabilities.

The Ordonez’s Ordeal

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys win large verdictAccording to Francis Dorrity, the Ordonez’s attorney, Emily was admitted to the Bayonne Medical Center at 1:30 am on August 15, 2005 with the beginning pains of labor. All tests showed a healthy baby. But at 9:32am, the machine monitoring the baby’s heart rate showed a rapid drop from 140 beats per minute to a dangerous 60 beats per minute.

Hospital phone records show that the the delivery room nurse waited nearly a half an hour before she called the attending obstetrician to alert him of the complication. The obstetrician arrived from Staten Island 22 minutes later and waited until 10:55am to perform the 4 minute emergency C-Section.

The babies heart rate fell because of umbilical cord compression, which caused the fetus to be denied adequate oxygen. José Ordonez, now 5, was born with permanent brain damage, leaving him blind, unable to walk or hold his head up, and prone to seizures. José feeds through a straw and will require round-the-clock care for the remainder of his life.

The settlement will provide $6 million dollars to José to pay for his life-long medical care, and $2.5 million will go to his parents for pain and suffering.

José now attends the Concordia Learning Center, and Dorrity says the staff there has helped him tremendously.

“Through their efforts and teaching at Concordia Learning Center this child has seen improvement in the way of cognition and recognition. He responds to voice and touching in ways he didn’t before.”

Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was injured at birth and you now have questions regarding your legal rights, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the medical malpractice and birth injury attorneys answer any questions you may have.

Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Win Large Verdict in New York State

In New York State, a tremendous verdict was awarded recently to a 24 year old woman who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral Palsy Results After Prolonged Oxygen Deprivation

new jersey philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys win big verdict new yorkTiffany Busone and her mother sued the Bellevue Maternity Hospital (now known as the Bellevue Women’s Center) for negligently delivering Tiffany on July 15th, 1984. Tiffany was deprived of oxygen for nearly 15 minutes while doctors failed to properly resuscitate her. She now suffers permanent brain damage because of it.

The Saratoga County, six member jury, made up of three men and three women, unianimously agreed to award Tiffany the $43.5 million dollar verdict. The money breaks down to $20 million for home health aides, $15 million for future pain and suffering, $6 million for past pain and suffering, and the remainder for medical expenses and loss of wages.

Tiffany will always require a wheel chair, home health aides, special medical equipment, and, despite her above average intelligence and bachelors degree from Arizona State University, will never be able to hold a job to support herself financially. Her lack of motor skills and permanent brain damage will render her unfit for the workforce.

This verdict will serve to support Tiffany and her mother, who cares for her, for the rest of Tiffany’s life.

Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child suffers from a birth injury or defect such as cerebral palsy, it may be due to medical malpractice or negligence. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The medical malpractice and cerebral palsy attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are here to answer any questions that you may have regarding your legal rights. You can also call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Injury Reduction Earns Award for Texas Medical Network

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys award texas medical networkThe state of Texas has recently awarded Seton Hospitals with the first annual “Quality Award” for their extremely successful push to reduce birth injuries. Seton was the only hospital in the state to receive the award.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission presented Seton with the award after the family of hospitals reported the lowest birth injury rate in the nation. Seton stated that their efforts to reduce birth trauma included limited use of forceps and vacuum extractors, as well as limiting elective inductions before 39 weeks.

In 2003, Seton Hospitals reported 3 birth injuries per 1,000 live births. In 2007, the rate had fallen to .2 birth injuries per 1,000 live births. The commission confirms that Seton’s success continues.

Health and Human Services Commissioner Thomas Suehs (left) commented on Seton and their accomplishment:

“We’re proud to recognize Seton for this accomplishment because it shows how good medicine is also good public policy. This initiative leads to healthier babies, and it also saves money for taxpayers by reducing the number of Medicaid births with complications.”

Of the award, commission spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said:

“It’s a way for us to highlight best practices that we’d like to see replicated across the state.”

Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child is a victim of a birth injury that you believe was caused by medical malpractice or delivery room negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. If you have any questions regarding your legal rights, feel free to call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Shoulder Dystocia Protocol Reduces Birth Injury By 26%

Family Practice News, an independent, online newspaper that provides timely and relevant news about clinical developments in the field of family medicine, recently reported on a study that showed that specific and firm protocol regarding shoulder dystocia and other birthing hazards could significantly reduce the instances of birth injury.

Standardized Protocol Reduces Birth Injury

new jersey philadelphia shoulder dystocia lawyers protocol reduces birth injuryThe protocol system, called Code-D, reduced the occurences of infant brachial plexus injury (Erb’s Palsy) caused by shoulder dystocia (when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone by 26%, according to study reports presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting.

The study assessed nearly 12,000 vaginal deliveries that utilized the Code-D delivery standards, which include mobilization of experienced staff, a hands-off pause for assessment, and additional varied maneuvers.

Staff at the Jamiaca (NY) Hospital Medical Center were trained with the protocol, which involved practicing on manikins. Staff were trained to utilize the hands-off pause a “breather;” a short pause to take a deep breath, assess the situation, and quickly move on appropriately.

Dr. Inglis, of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, says that Should Dystocia and brachial plexus injury are on the rise in recent years because of maternal obesity and diabetes. Hopefully, this system that has shown great success for Jamaica Hospital will be implemented in hospitals nationwide and continue to reduce injury in newborns.

Shoulder Dystocia Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child received an injury to his or her brachial plexus during child birth, it’s possible they are victims of shoulder dystocia and a negligent obstetrician. Contact the Mininno Law Office if you have any questions regarding the condition of your child and/or your legal rights. You may also call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Secondhand Smoke a Major Player in Birth Defects and Stillbirths

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys secondhand smoke pergnancyAs reported by TIME.com,University of Nottingham reporters recently published a review paper that highlighted results of a number of previous studies which suggested that exposing nonsmoking pregnant women to secondhand smoke increases the risk of a stillbirth by 23%. Passive smoking increases the risk of congenital birth defects by 13%. The paper, an analysis based on data retrieved from 19 previous studies, is scheduled to appear in the April issue of the medical journal, Pediatrics.

Simultaneously, researchers tried to link secondhand smoke with miscarriage and unexplained infant death, but were not able to find any correlations. They were also unable to determine during which stages of pregnancy secondhand smoke was most dangerous.

Interestingly, the study stated that the source of secondhand smoke in 5 of the 19 studies was the baby’s father. The paper went on to promote quitting during pregnancy:

“These results highlight the importance for smoking prevention and cessation to focus on the father in addition to the mother during the preconception period as well as during pregnancy.”

The paper’s author, Jo Leonardi-Bee, said that more research is necessary to determine whether fetal effects take place because of the mother’s inhalation of smoke, or because smoking effects the father’s sperm. She also states that these results are based on a minimum of 10 cigarettes a day, but that in the best interest of health, quitting is the best option.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect, or suffered from any type of birth injury, and you believe it is due to malpractice or negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, you may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the birth injury lawyers at the Mininno Law Office work to earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Birth Injury Attorneys Warn Against the Use of PPIs During Pregnancy

A study of 200,000 women in 2010 has revealed that women who take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) during the first trimester of their pregnancy are twice as likely to deliver babies with birth defects than women who have not taken the drugs.

PPI’s Can Cause Cardiac Defects

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys warning PPIs during pregnancyPrescription proton pump inhibitors include Nexium, Dexilant, Prilosec, Zegerid, Prevacid, Protonix, and AcipHex. Current over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors include Prilosec OTC, Zegerid OTC and Prevacid 24HR. The drugs are approved to treat disorders like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach and intestinal ulcers, and esophogeal inflammation.

The study was executed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, and led by Dr. Andrew D. Rhim. Rhim commented on the research he and his collegues presented at Digestive Disease Week just a year ago:

“We feel that our data … can have a large public health impact given the fact that GERD is so common during pregnancy.”

GERD is, in fact, very common during pregnancy, as 50% of women will suffer acid reflux during the gestational period. And while the prescriptions help an uncomfortable and painful condition, their safety regarding fetuses has never been definitively determined. As a class, PPIs work by stopping the release of stomach acid, which, without the assistance of a PPI, can rise up the esophagus and cause what we all know as the sensation of “heartburn.” A number of infants whose mothers took the heartburn medicines were born with cardiac abnormalities that included septal defects, left ventricular defects, and right ventricular defects.

Rhim offered an alternative to PPIs, after releasing the results of his study:

“One way to use this data to impact care would be to make sure that if physicians see pregnant women who complain [about GERD], they make sure those women are taking folic acid. That’s the only thing we know of that can decrease the risk of having a baby with cardiac birth defects.”

Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect, or suffered birth injury due to delivery room negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the birth injury lawyers at the Mininno Law Office work to earn you the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.