Nature really is a wonder, and one can look at almost any aspect of the natural world and be mesmerized by all of the processes that must take place and all that must go right for anything to happen. This is particularly true with regards to the prenatal development and the ultimate birth of a child. Childbirth happens so often that many of us take it for granted, but the fact of the matter is that everyone involved with a pregnancy needs to continually do the right things so that the baby is born as strong and as healthy as possible. This includes the medical professionals overseeing the prenatal care and the delivery.
Unfortunately, this is not always what occurs, and infants can pay a heavy if not a permanent price for mistakes that are made. Some of these mistakes are made by the medical professionals charged with caring for the mother and the unborn child. Below you will find a brief overview of a relatively unknown birth injury that can occur that is known as microcephaly. Anyone whose child has suffered in this manner needs to obtain the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers as soon as possible.
Microcephaly – A Brief Introduction
Microcephaly is a relatively rare condition whereby an infant’s head does not develop properly, and as a result it is much smaller than it should be relative to the rest of that child’s body. This may seem like a largely cosmetic problem, but unfortunately children with microcephaly often face situations where their central nervous systems do not develop properly. Children suffering from this condition can suffer from regular seizures, mental retardation, dwarfism and severe motor skills deficits.
There are several ways that a child can contract microcephaly, and some of them are unavoidable and involve genetic problems. However, there are other ways in which this result can play out that involve negligence. For instance, children exposed to certain toxic substances such as those present in X-rays could face this difficulty. In addition, infants who suffer from a lack of oxygen either immediately before or during birth could also wind up facing this diagnosis.
This is why the medical professionals who care for expecting mothers need to provide proper care that includes helping them avoid toxic substances. They also need to do whatever is necessary to minimize the chance that a child will suffer from a lack of oxygen during birth and immediately react to it if such a problem does arise. Every second that a child is without oxygen can lead to dire consequences, which is why any warning sign needs to be taken very seriously.
If your child has been diagnosed with microcephaly and you believe it was the result of a medical mistake, you need to seek the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of families for more than 40 years. Contact The Fitzgerald Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.