Experienced Perinatal Encephalopathy Attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri
At The Gogel Law Firm, our birth injury attorneys in St. Louis know that all parents hope for when having a child is a healthy delivery for both the mother and baby.
Unfortunately, perinatal encephalopathy can occur when the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen during the birth process.
Perinatal encephalopathy is a brain injury that can result in long-term devastating consequences for the baby, varying from mild behavioral deficits to severe seizures, development and intellectual disabilities, and/or cerebral palsy.
When is Perinatal Encephalopathy Caused by Medical Malpractice During Pregnancy, Labor, or Delivery
Physicians, specifically OBGYNs who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, monitor both the mother and baby’s health during the pregnancy to help ensure the safety of both leading up to labor and delivery.
Perinatal encephalopathy is a syndrome that involves depressed neurological function, often caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby during birth.
This can include when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the neck of the baby during pregnancy, failing to treat the mother’s high blood pressure, failure to monitor the mother and her baby’s vital signs to indicate the presence of fetal distress, negligent care during labor and delivery of a child, or failing to perform a cesarean section.
Obstetricians are trained to recognize and quickly respond to distress signals with immediate treatment, including intubation, ventilation and IV fluids, or risk the baby’s ability to get oxygen to the brain, which can have long-term consequences.
Many babies who have had perinatal encephalopathy have an increased risk of developing at least some neurological or developmental problems, which will require a lifetime of care. If your physician’s actions or inaction led to your child’s perinatal encephalopathy, contact our medical malpractice lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri today to review your case by calling (314) 370-8173 or online to schedule a free consultation.
