Jaundice is a relatively common medical condition that frequently develops in newborns. With proper monitoring and medical care, jaundice is usually nothing to worry about. However, when doctors fail to recognize or treat the condition, newborns can be seriously harmed.
When your baby experiences problems because of undiagnosed or untreated jaundice, reach out to a birth injury attorney for assistance. An Upper Marlboro jaundice injury lawyer from our firm might be able to help your family pursue a civil claim for financial compensation against the baby’s negligent caregivers.
What Is Jaundice?
Jaundice is a medical condition that occurs when a person has too much of the compound bilirubin in their bloodstream. In older children and adults, jaundice develops from liver, gallbladder, or pancreas diseases or an obstruction of their bile duct.
In newborns, jaundice usually arises because their immature and underdeveloped liver is not able to remove the excess bilirubin from their bloodstream. Jaundice can also develop from complications during the delivery. Premature babies, breast-fed children, and infants with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of developing jaundice.
Common Symptoms of Jaundice
The most common indication of jaundice is a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes due to excess bilirubin. Babies with jaundice also have poor feeding habits and might appear overly fatigued.
Treatment of Jaundice
Fortunately, most cases of infant jaundice resolve on their own without the need for medical intervention. Sometimes, hospitals encourage parents to feed their babies more frequently or put the baby under a heat lamp where they can receive phototherapy to help the baby break down the excess bilirubin. If the condition is so severe that the bilirubin does not respond to those treatments, the baby may need to undergo invasive medical procedures, such as exchange transfusions.
When left untreated, jaundice can lead to serious medical complications, such as brain damage, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disorders. A compassionate Upper Marlboro jaundice injury attorney understands how traumatic birth injuries can be and will work to minimize the additional strain of a lawsuit.
Negligence in Jaundice Injury Cases
Healthcare professionals should recognize the symptoms and signs of jaundice and provide treatment and monitoring until the condition resolves. Most hospitals test infants’ blood for jaundice once or twice before discharging them. However, when they fail to recognize the symptoms or test for jaundice, the baby will not receive the treatment they need. The medical provider who cared for the child can be held legally accountable for complications from untreated jaundice, such as when:
- The healthcare provider failed to recognize the signs of jaundice
- The healthcare provider failed to provide treatment to the jaundiced baby
- The hospital did not have a standard policy of checking for bilirubin levels in all newborns
- The medical team did not follow up or monitor the baby, who showed elevated bilirubin levels
- The medical provider contributed to the jaundice through an aggressive delivery by injuring the baby’s head, such as during a vacuum or forceps delivery
- The medical provider did not adequately inform the parents about the jaundice symptoms and when it gets alarming for medical intervention
An experienced Upper Marlboro lawyer can consult with medical professionals who are familiar with jaundice injuries to determine whether the baby’s doctors and medical team provided the appropriate level of care.
Meet With an Upper Marlboro Jaundice Injury Attorney
Jaundice is not a rare medical condition. Your baby’s doctors should be able to recognize and treat it with proper medical care. When your baby’s health suffers because of undiagnosed or untreated jaundice, you may be able to hold their doctor, medical staff, or hospital accountable. Meet with an Upper Marlboro jaundice injury lawyer from Price Benowitz to discuss your options today.
