Farrell & Patel, Attorneys at Law

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An Overview of Birth Asphyxia

Perinatal asphyxia, commonly called birth asphyxia, is a type of birth injury that occurs when a baby is being deprived of oxygen. A lack of oxygen at birth is one of the most prominent factors in brain injuries at birth. When a brain is deprived of oxygen, brain cells begin to die and become waste. This waste, which is acidic, builds up and can cause permanent damage. This type of injury may even go unnoticed at first, which makes it all the more dangerous.

Causes of Birth Asphyxia

Some of the factors known to increase the risk of birth asphyxia are as follows:

Low oxygen in the mother’s blood prior to birth

Mother’s abnormal blood pressure

Umbilical cord issues

Serious infection in the baby or the mother

Difficult delivery of the baby

The baby’s airway is blocked or not developed properly

Anemia

Signs and Diagnosis of Birth Asphyxia

There are a number of signs that your baby may have suffered from asphyxia at birth including:

Weak breathing

Low heart rate

Pale or blueish skin color

Muscle weakness

Slowed reflexes

Seizures

Acid in the blood (acidosis)

Check out our blog for more information regarding birth asphyxia as well as information on how to move forward if you believe that your baby sustained a birth injury during delivery.

Farrell & Patel – Miami birth injury lawyers

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What Is a PTAC AC Unit?

Defective LG PTAC units are causing fires and bellowing smoke into rooms. This defect has killed, maimed and damaged property.

These defective units are PTAC units, also known as packaged terminal air conditioners. They are an in-the-wall AC device with a heath pump. They are a common AC unit for heating or cooling an individual room.

These poorly designed machines can endanger both commercial building and private residences. Hotels, motels, nursing homes, schools, and apartment buildings are known to purchase and use PTAC units.

Currently, there is a large putative class action lawsuit against LG because of these defective units. It is not too late to join in if you are a business or individual seeking financial relief for LG’s negligence.

Farrell & Patel – Class Action Lawyers

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Can Antibiotics Cause Cerebral Palsy?

According to research led by University College London, macrolide antibiotics can cause cerebral palsy if used during pregnancy.

Macrolide antibiotics are used to help fight off bacterial infections during pregnancy, especially if a patient is allergic to penicillin.

This new research involved studying 200,000 pregnant women to find the link between antibiotics and cerebral palsy. They found that there was a 78 percent increase in the risk for cerebral palsy for mothers that used macrolide antibiotics.

The costs of raising a child with cerebral palsy can be very expensive, depending on the severity of the condition. Many children with cerebral palsy can have fulfilling lives, but some children are born with severe physical and mental handicaps and will need lifetime care. A birth injury attorney can help you secure damages if your child’s cerebral palsy was the fault of a negligent healthcare or pharmaceutical provider.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/03March/Pages/Do-antibiotics-in-pregnancy-cause-cerebral-palsy-and-epilepsy.aspx

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Can Topamax Cause Birth Defects?

The Food and Drug Administration has labeled Topamax a Class D drug for its toxicity to newborn children. Topamax, also known by the generic name topiramate, has been linked to the following birth defects:

Cleft lip or cleft palate

Heart defects

Lung defects

Spina bifida, an incomplete closing of the neural tube.

Limb abnormalities

Hypospadias, a penile     defect.

These birth defects and others can be really expensive to correct or to live with. Surgeries, rehabilitations and the costs of extra healthcare can put a dent in a family’s expenses.  In addition, future situations, such as potential employment, must be considered, depending on the severity of the birth defect. A pharmaceutical litigation attorney can help secure damages in a lawsuit if prescription medication caused your child’s birth defects.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.drugwatch.com/topamax/side-effects/

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Are Defective LG Air Conditioning Units Dangerous?

A major class action lawsuit is currently has been filed over LG air conditioning units that are causing fires, smoke or just shutting down. Currently, about 100 hotel owners have joined this class action.

A boy in Texas was killed when his AC unit caught fire. Additionally, a hotel in Louisiana had an AC fire as well, which has caused that establishment to lose money because the fire is associated with the hotel, rather than the creators of the AC unit.

LG has not responded when requests for recalls or replacements have been made.

There is still time to join this lawsuit. Consult your local class action attorney to see what your options are if an LG AC unit has injured you.

Farrell & Patel – Class Action Lawyers

Source: https://www.asianhospitality.com/industry-news/Hotelier+joins+class-action+suit+/1155

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Can Medication Cause Poland Syndrome?

Pfizer was sued by a mother that claims that the Zoloft that she was prescribed led to birth injuries for her child. A doctor had told her that the medication was safe, but her newborn was born with several birth defects, including Poland syndrome.

Babies born with Poland syndrome are often born with missing or underdeveloped muscles in the upper torso. Sometimes other abnormalities occur, including webbed fingers or missing fingers.

Children with Poland syndrome may require numerous surgeries and constant medical care. If someone else is at fault for your child’s birth defects, you should not have to worry about the financial burden caused by their error. A pharmaceutical litigation attorney could help you secure damages.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

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How Could a No-Fault Birth Injury Fund Affect Lawsuits?

A politician in Maryland has proposed a very controversial no-fault birth injury fund. In the event that it passes, it could influence other states to pass similar legislation.

Maryland’s plan is to have hospitals pay $25 million dollars into a fund each year to pay for any birth injury lawsuit. However, it is estimated that this would cover only seven birth injury cases each year. The Maryland Association of Justice believes that Maryland could see as many as 150 cases each year.

It remains to be seen if this plan has any chance of being passed by the state legislature. Attorneys argue that the current tort system is effective in dealing with birth injury medical malpractice cases.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://smnewsnet.com/archives/236765/a-bill-proposed-to-create-no-fault-birth-injury-fund-pits-hospitals-against-trial-lawyers/

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Boy with Cerebral Palsy Begins His Third Trial

A sixteen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has found himself in third trial in his young life. Jordan MacDonald was allegedly born with cerebral palsy because of complications with his birth and the use of a vacuum pump to extract him from the womb.

The plaintiffs claim that the doctor was more concerned over his broken down BMW than he was on focusing on the delivery. Additionally, the doctor did not get consent from the mother to use the vacuum pump.

This lawsuit was originally filed in 2000 and had gone through three trials. The first trial was declared a mistrial in 2011. Later that year, the second trial appeared to be a win for the defense. However, it was thrown out because of improper questioning of witnesses.

This third trial is just beginning. This lawsuit has lasted for fifteen years. It shows the importance of finding a good lawyer who has the stamina and determination to stick by your side to the very end.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/crime-law/malpractice-trial-over-boca-boys-cerebral-palsy-to/nkNFT/

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Is Clomid Dangerous for Newborns?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked many birth defects with the infertility drug known as Clomid.

Birth defects include anencephaly, cloacal extrophy, Dandy-Walker malformation, coarctation of the aorta, craniosynostosis, esophageal atresia and septal heart defect.

Mothers that are expecting to have children, or plan to have children, should talk to a physician about taking Clomid, or any medication, during pregnancy.

If a child is born with a birth defect, and the mother was prescribed medication, there may be a chance that the mother can file a lawsuit on her child’s behalf for medical or pharmaceutical negligence. Speak to a birth injury attorney to see if medication was the cause of your child’s birth defects.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

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What is Anencephaly?

Anencephaly is a horrific birth defect. Babies born with this defect are generally missing a large portion of their brain, skull and scalp. Most of the children only live for an hour or less.

This condition happens because the neural tube does not close during early pregnancy, which hampers the formation of the brain and spinal cord.

Medications such as Celexa, Clomid, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft are linked to anencephaly. Additionally, environmental factors, such as pesticides and solvents, are known to cause this serious birth defect. Any of these causes have been known to lead to lawsuits.

Currently, there is not a cure for anencephaly.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source:

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fatal-birth-defect-stalks-3-central-wash-counties/

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What Causes Spinal Cord Birth Injuries?

Spinal cord birth injuries can occur due to difficult deliveries that are not handled properly. Sometimes a newborn can be stuck in the birth canal and an improperly trained or negligent healthcare worker can injure the child with an inappropriate use of a vacuum or forceps.

Erb’s palsy is a common spinal injury in children. It occurs when the nerves around the spinal region are damaged. The worst form of Erb’s palsy injuries are avulsions, which is when the nerves near the spine are severed. In these cases, the loss of function in an arm can occur, which could require nerve transplant surgery to restore the arm.

The medical costs of your child’s birth injury will be expensive. If the injury was caused by medical malpractice, then consult a specialized attorney immediately.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/pdf/10.1148/radiographics.20.4.g00jl06923

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How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child with Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a relatively common motor disorder, which affects thousands of children every year. It is also can be very costly to raise a child with CP.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimate that about 41.8 percent of children born with CP need some sort of assistance to move around a home or workplace. A permanent handicap could require the renovation of an entire living area, entranceway and vehicle. Additionally, even an intellectually gifted adult with CP can have a hard time finding a job because of their physical handicap. On top of this, a child with CP will need consistent medical care.

Other health problems are associated with CP, such as high rates of autism, intellectual disabilities and visual impairments. Medicaid enrollments show that the medical costs are $16,721 for a child with CP compared to the usual $1,675 for most children. If the child with CP has an intellectual disability, then the price shoots up to $43,338 for health costs.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/data.html

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Can Toxic Air Cause Birth Defects?

A new study reveals that quinolone and trichloroethylene are two hazardous air pollutants that can have dangerous ramifications to newborns. More specifically, the study found that these pollutants increase the risk for spina bifida.

Coal tar is the principle source of commercial quinolone. It is known as a solvent for resins and terpenes.

Trichloroethylene has been banned in some industries since the 1970s. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) considers it a carcinogen. Yet, this industrial solvent is still used in some areas.

Both air pollutants are also well known for being dangerous water contaminants. Clearly, quinolone and trichloroethylene are dangerous.

Consult a birth injury attorney if you think an environmental hazard is the reason for your child’s birth defect.

Source: http://7thspace.com/headlines/503689/air_toxics_and_birth_defects_a_bayesian_hierarchical_approach_to_evaluate_multiple_pollutants_and_spina_bifida.html

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What is Shoulder Dystocia?

Shoulder dystocia occurs when a newborn’s shoulder prevents the baby from emerging completely from the birth canal. Generally, the shoulder is stuck behind the pelvis bone.

This is an emergency, which requires proper medical training. Unfortunately, some of these cases lead to severe birth injuries because medical staff mishandles the situation.

Common injuries for babies with shoulder dystocia include nerve damage, such as brachial plexus. If the baby is not rescued quickly enough, then birth asphyxia can occur, which can lead to brain damage, cerebral palsy or death.

Birth injuries caused by an ill-trained staff or negligence can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

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Can I File a Birth Injury Lawsuit for a Botched Water Birth?

Legacy Health System in Oregon is facing a $35 million dollar medical malpractice lawsuit for a botched water birth, which led to cerebral palsy.

The family of the child injured at the medical center claim that the staff was not trained properly to handle the birth. For instance, the baby was not delivered on time, which led to oxygen deprivation. The staff allegedly was not able to resuscitate the baby properly. Additionally, there is debate on whether or not a C-section should have been involved rather than a water birth in a high-risky pregnancy.

Prolonged deliveries are often caused when the baby’s head is too large for the birth canal. This is called cephalopelvic disproportion, which often requires a C-section. When a prolonged birth causes birth asphyxia, then brain damage can result.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.hngn.com/articles/61167/20150116/oregon-parents-sue-millions-botched-water-birth-leaves-son-disabled.htm

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Can Opioid Prescriptions Cause Birth Defects?

The most recent opioid prescription study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that almost a third of women of reproductive age in the United States had an opioid prescription. This number is shocking considering how these drugs are known to significantly increase the risk of a birth defect.

In addition to becoming addicted, babies born from mother’s taking this medication have an increased chance of a brain, spine, abdomen and heart defects.

Codeine, oxycodone and hydrocodone are among the most used opioid prescriptions.

If you are pregnant or if you are considering having children, you should check with your physician to see what medication is best for you.

If a healthcare provider fails to warn you of the dangers of a drug, then they could become liable for any damage that they cause to you or your child.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/health/high-rates-of-opioid-prescriptions-among-women-raise-alarm.html?_r=0

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Is Depakote Still Facing Birth Defect Lawsuits?

Depakote is back in the news as Abbott Laboratories is looking at more lawsuits for alleged birth defects caused by their anti-seizure medication.

One mother claims she was never warned of the dangers of Depakote. Her child has spina bifida, which requires many trips to the hospital for surgeries.

A grown man that was born with spina bifida is filing a lawsuit on his own. He said that the Depakote that his mother was taking when he was born gave him his birth defect. He has had numerous operation because of his birth defect.

In Illinois, a group of mothers have filed a lawsuit because of the birth defects their children have suffered due to Depakote.

If you are pregnant or are wishing to have a child, please talk to your physician to make sure any medication you are taking is safe for you and your baby.

Farrell & Patel – Birth Injury Lawyers

Source: http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/depakote/interview-depakote-lawsuit-side-17-20385.html#.VLgvsyvF888