Litigation

Malpractice causes brain damage in new born

By Michael Kaplen

ABC News has broadcast a very disturbing story of a young girl who has suffered severe brain damage as a result of a condition known as Kernicterus which is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood- stream following birth.  The story also reports on experimental brain stimulation therapy designed to minimize some of the effects of the brain damage.

What is particularly disturbing is that this cause of brain damage is easily preventable if prompt medical care is given to the new born.  With the use of a $1 test that is readily available to detect bilirubin levels in the blood stream, effective photo-therapy would have brought the bilirubin levels down before any damage was done to the infant.

High bilirubin levels are typically caused by Rh incompatibilities between the mother and the new born child.  The most frequent presenting symptom is jaundice or yellowing of the skin. 

The medical profession has known for years that whenever a new born has or is thought to have jaundice, a bilirubin level test must be taken and prompt treatment needs to be undertaken to avoid serious brain damage.

You can view the full story of the medical errors that have led to brain damage by clicking here.

The brain injury attorneys at the brain injury law firm of De Caro & Kaplen, LLPhave  successfully prosecuted cases of medical error causing kernicterus and brain damage.

ABC News has broadcast a very disturbing story of a young girl who has suffered severe brain damage as a result of a condition known as Kernicterus which is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood- stream following birth.  The story also reports on experimental brain stimulation therapy designed to minimize some of the effects of the brain damage.

What is particularly disturbing is that this cause of brain damage is easily preventable if prompt medical care is given to the new born.  With the use of a $1 test that is readily available to detect bilirubin levels in the blood stream, effective photo-therapy would have brought the bilirubin levels down before any damage was done to the infant.

High bilirubin levels are typically caused by Rh incompatibilities between the mother and the new born child.  The most frequent presenting symptom is jaundice or yellowing of the skin. 

The medical profession has known for years that whenever a new born has or is thought to have jaundice, a bilirubin level test must be taken and prompt treatment needs to be undertaken to avoid serious brain damage.

You can view the full story of the medical errors that have led to brain damage by clicking here.

The brain injury attorneys at the brain injury law firm of De Caro & Kaplen, LLPhave  successfully prosecuted cases of medical error causing kernicterus and brain damage.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on August 06, 2009 (boomark / email).