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December 5, 2010

Understanding the Newborn Immune System

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We come into contact with millions of germs each day, yet most people only get truly sick two or three times per year. We rely on our immune systems to fight off the germs and protect us from bacteria and viruses that can make us ill. However, we are not born with an up-and-running immune system from the moment of our birth. The newborn’s immune system must be strengthened and developed during the first several months of life.

While a baby is still in the mother’s womb, he or she receives the building blocks of the immune system. From the mother through the placenta, the baby acquires immunoglobulin G, or IgG, which is the most prevalent antibody in the immune system, comprising 75-80% of your germ fighters. Because these antibodies bind to invading bacteria and viruses, they are a major part of your immune system, and they help prevent infections while the baby is still in the womb.

At the time of birth, babies still have the high amount of IgG in their bloodstream, yet their overall immunity to germs is still not completely developed. Now, the newborns must receive further immune system help via the breast milk. However, the first thing secreted from the breasts is actually the colostrum. It is a thick, carbohydrate-rich substance that is easier for a baby to digest. Additionally, the colostrum is packed with antibodies to give the newborn a first package of other, adaptive immunoglobulin types.

Once the regular breast milk starts to flow, it also contains necessary immune system components. By drinking breast milk, babies receive doses of immunoglobulins A, E, M, D, and more IgG. This is called passive immunity. However, this does not mean that the immunoglobulin doesn’t fight germs-it just means that the mother has transferred active immunity to her child (”passed” it on).

Over time, the mother gives less and less immunity to the baby via the breast milk. In fact, the newborn’s germ-fighting system begins making its own antibodies when the child is 2-3 months old. The production of antibodies does not reach a normal adult rate until the baby is about six months of age.

When a child is newly born, its immunity is not yet strong enough to protect it from harm. Thus, doctors and hospitals should be very careful with allowing newborns to come into contact with things that can cause possible birth infections.

If your baby has developed a birth infection as a result of hospital negligence, you should contact a birth injury attorney to discuss your rights. For more information, check out the experienced birth injury lawyers from Lowenthal & Abrams, PC today.

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December 4, 2010

Medical Malpractice and Birth Injuries

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Deciding to bring a child into this world is one of the biggest decisions a person can make. Soon-to-be parents will do everything in their power to ensure their child’s health and well-being. Unfortunately, negligent doctors can compromise a baby’s health by administering inadequate prenatal care. If you or your child has suffered because of a negligent doctor or nurse, they may be liable for your losses.

Causes for Birth Injury

Birth injuries may occur for a variety of reasons. In some cases, natural causes may result in a difficult delivery and subsequent birth injury; however, in other cases, a doctor’s negligence may be to blame. Common factors that contribute are to birth injuries include:

• Large baby (over 9 pounds)

• Breeched delivery- Where the baby is positioned feet first during delivery

• Improper use of delivery tools, such as forceps or vacuum

• Premature delivery- Delivery before the 37th week of pregnancy

• Inadequate pre-natal care

Common Birth Injuries

While many injuries can be avoided with proper pre-natal care, some occur precisely at the moment of birth, including:

• Cerebral Palsy-Caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that inhibits a child from having control of their muscles. This is a life-long condition.

• Erb’s Palsy-Nerve damage that generally affects a baby’s shoulders and arms. This condition is caused by the child’s shoulders getting caught on their mother’s pelvic bones during delivery. While this is not always a lifelong condition, it can require extensive surgery to correct the problem.

• Facial paralysis

• Bruising

• Fractures

While some birth injuries can resolve themselves in a few weeks, if damage is severe, there may be life-long consequences. If your child has suffered because of a negligent doctor, you should not have to bear the consequences alone.

Compensation

With the help of n experienced medical malpractice attorney, you may be eligible to receive recompense for your losses. Birth injuries that are caused by doctor negligence are frequently awarded compensation for the following losses:

• Medical expenses

• Pain and suffering

• Lost wages

• Wrongful death

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December 3, 2010

Failure to Screen and Treat Pregnant Women For Group B Strep and Medical Malpractice

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Group B Strep is a bacteria that can be transmitted from mother to infant during vaginal delivery. Up to 85 percent of all cases of Group B Strep in infants can be prevented by appropriate testing and treatment of the mother during labor and delivery. Yet, every year a number of infants will become infected with Group B Strep because of a doctor’s failure to screen and treat the mother for Group B Strep. A percentage of these infants will suffer permanent damage that can include cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, mental retardation, learning disabilities and seizures. And approximately 5 percent of infants affected by the infection will die. The failure to screen and treat pregnant women for Group B Strep may result in a medical malpractice claim.

Women  should be screened for Group B Strep at 35 to 37 weeks into the pregnancy.

Approximately 25 percent of women carry the Group B Strep bacteria. For most of these women, the Group B Strep bacteria does not cause active infection, and is not contagious. To detect the presence of Group B Strep in the mother, all women should be tested at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy, even if they are not at high risk and have no symptoms. This screening is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Women who test positive for Group B Strep should be treated during vaginal delivery.

If the presence of Group B Strep is identified, the mother can be treated with oral antibiotics right away. Intravenous antibiotics are then administered as soon as labor starts or the mother’s water breaks, whichever comes first.  Ideally, the intravenous antibiotics will be administered at least four hours before childbirth. The use of intravenous antibiotics greatly reduces the chances that the infant will suffer from Group B Strep. 

Women at high risk for Group B Strep should also be treated during vaginal delivery.

In situations where the mother goes into labor without prior testing or knowing whether she is carrying the Group B Strep bacteria, antibiotics should be administered during labor if the mother is at high risk. High risk cases arise when:

The mother goes into labor prematurely (before 37 weeks).
The mother’s water breaks prematurely or there’s a long delay (12 hours or more) between her water breaking and the delivery.
The mother develops a fever during labor (100.4 degrees F or higher).

Women who have a history of Group B Strep in previous births or had a urinary tract infection caused by Group B Strep in the current pregnancy should also automatically receive antibiotics during labor.

Without screening and treatment the Group B Strep bacteria may be transmitted from the mother to her baby.

The Group B Strep bacteria can be transmitted from mother to child in any of several different ways during labor and delivery. For example, the bacteria can be transmitted as the infant passes through the birth canal.  If a mother with Strep B Strep is given antibiotics during labor, the chances of her transmitting it to her newborn are greatly reduced. Once the infant is exposed, however, the Group B Strep bacteria can spread into the infant’s bloodstream, leading to sepsis (an infection that spreads throughout the body), pneumonia, strokes, meningitis or, even death.   Most babies develop a Group B Strep infection within 7 days of birth. The few who develop it later usually do so within the first 3 months of age. The infection can result in permanent injuries to the baby, including blindness, hearing loss, mental retardation, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, and seizures. Approximately 5 percent of infants who develop a Group B Strep infection do not survive.

Failure to screen and treat pregnant women for Group B Strep may constitute medical malpractice

Up to 85 percent of all cases of Group B Strep in infants can be prevented by appropriate testing and treatment of the mother during labor and delivery. Unfortunately, all too often doctors fail to recommend routine screening for the Group B Strep bacteria to pregnant female patients or fail to provide antibiotic treatment for women who are either at high risk or are positive for Group B Strep. This can constitute a departure from acceptable medical practice commonly referred to as the “standard of care.” The result can be tragic - a baby who suffers from a Group B Strep infection that causes death or permanent severe injuries. Such a departure from the standard of care by a doctor that leads to the death or permanent injury of a baby may result in a medical malpractice claim.

Contact a Lawyer Today

If your baby passed away or suffered a permanent injury as a result of Group B Strep and you feel that a doctor or other health care provider failed to recommend screening during pregnancy or failed to provide appropriate antibiotic treatment for Group B Strep during the labor and delivery, you should contact a lawyer. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal (or medical) advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based upon any information in this article without seeking professional legal counsel. A competent lawyer with experience in medical malpractice can assist you in determining whether you may have a claim for the failure on the part of the doctor to offer Group B Strep screening and treatment. There is a time limit in cases like these so do not wait to call.

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December 1, 2010

Causes and Effects of Endometriosis

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There are many different cell types in your body that are all basically the same, yet they are specialized to perform the various tasks associated with that area of your body. For example, stomach cells are tough and undergo rapid regeneration in order to keep stomach acid from leaking into the rest of your body. Another type of cell is the one that grows in the uterus, or endometrium. When these cells migrate outside the uterus, they can cause health issues and infertility in a condition called endometriosis.

The cells of the endometrium are meant to be shed every month with the menstrual period. This allows the lining of the uterus to remain fresh and ready for implantation of a fertilized egg, should you be trying to get pregnant. However, when these cells migrate out of the uterus, it causes endometriosis. Endometriosis can happen when the cells back up the fallopian tubes or move down into the vagina. They can spread and implant in the fallopian tubes and vagina as well as ovaries, outside of uterus and intestines, bladder, cervix, and other places inside the pelvic cavity.

While retrograde menstruation, or the backing up of endometrial cells through the fallopian tubes, is one possible cause of endometriosis, doctors aren’t really sure of the exact reason why this condition occurs. Another theory is that there are primitive cells throughout the pelvic area and abdominal cavity that are able to develop into other, more specialized cell types. If they mutate into endometrial cells, you can develop endometriosis.

In some cases, doctors believe that surgery can accidentally transfer endometrial cells to other parts of your body. Things like caesarean sections and episiotomies can serve as a source of the transfer. When endometrial cells appear in places like the brain and other places far from your pelvic area, it is possible that they are carried by the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.

Lastly, there is a chance that problems with a woman’s immune system can allow endometrial cells to grow outside of the uterus. Normally, the immune system is responsible for keeping the specialized cells in their respective places. When something goes wrong with the immune system, it can allow the cells to grow in places that typically do not have endometrial cells.

The symptoms of endometriosis include infertility, spotting, painful periods, and strong cramps, among other things. If you develop endometriosis during pregnancy, it is difficult to carry the child full term. Once you get to delivery, it can cause complications during labor. Thus, doctors should be aware of your condition and ready to act accordingly in order to help your baby.

When doctors fail to act skillfully and carefully during delivery, it can result in birth injury to your child. If your baby has suffered from a birth injury due to the medical staff’s negligence, you should contact a birth injury attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams PC, today.

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November 30, 2010

Common Causes Of Birth Injury

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Dying in childbirth is now a seldom occurrence. We hear stories growing up about the numerous women who lost their lives while giving birth to their beloved children. Back when there were no effective medicines to help ease the excruciating pain, people often heard screams in the distance as some poor woman braced herself for the passing of her baby, from the unborn to the living. For those women who survive, the joys of watching that child grow will make that pain worthwhile, but for those who lose their lives, they only have a legacy to pass on to their offspring.

Today, the circumstances are a little different. With the evolution of technology and scientific discovery, our knowledge of the human body and its processes are becoming increasingly accurate. We can determine what action to take in different situations in order to ensure the most profitable outcome. Despite these improvements, birth injuries still occur. These can be caused by a number of different things, ranging from inadequate medical care to natural pregnancy complications.

Some of the most common are as follows:

Abnormal position refers to the way the baby is positioned in the mother’s womb. While doctors can try to reposition the baby, the process can incur even more complications, like tangling the umbilical cord, which can eventually strangle the baby.

Large babies, those that way 8.5 pounds or more, can cause injury to the mother during birth. In some cases, the baby is too large for the birth canal, and in others, the baby can rip or tear flesh, forcing an operation to be done in order to retrieve the baby. This can also occur when the baby is too mature and has been in the womb for a several days beyond the expected delivery date.

Abnormal birthing presentation, the case in which the baby comes out the wrong way (buttocks or feet first), is also another cause of birth injury. In most instances, the doctor can detect or predict the likely outcome of this occurrence in order to prevent injury, but it’s not always the case.

These examples are only three of the possible causes of birth injury. More often than not, though, the fault isn’t on the mother’s genetic makeup, like her size or the nature of her labor. It is sometimes a result of malpractice, a doctor who is does not handle with care or who ignores vital signs that could prevent such injuries from occurring.

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November 28, 2010

Newborn Facial Nerve Damage

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When people are deciphering what other people are saying, they utilize many other clues besides the words themselves. We judge tone of voice as well as facial expression in order to fully analyze others’ feelings and to better understand their true meaning. For parents of babies, facial expression is a large part of determining how the child feels because a baby cannot exactly tell you how they feel. Thus, when a baby suffers from facial nerve damage, it can be frustrating as well as tragic.

The passage through the birth canal is a very tight squeeze. While the bodies of both a mother and baby are engineered to successfully complete the process, there are sometimes complications that can arise which result in extreme pressure in the birth canal. This can damage the baby’s nerves, such as with brachial plexus palsies, which limit the baby’s ability to control arm movement and have arm feeling.

The nerve system that controls facial movement is called the seventh cranial nerve. Although it originates deep inside the brain, it comes out to the side of the face in order to stretch around and control the various muscles of the face. It can suffer from damage with brain trauma or with direct trauma to the nerve.

Although some cases of facial paralysis can develop while the baby is still in the womb, birth trauma is also a source of facial nerve damage. There are several things that can cause this trauma. First, when a baby is slightly too large for the birth canal, it can compress important nerves that control facial movement. This condition is called cephalopelvic disproportion, or CPD. CPD can occur when a baby is too large, called macrosomia, or when a mother’s pelvis is too narrow. This can happen due to injury or physical abnormalities of pelvic structure.

In some cases, instruments such as vacuums and forceps that are sometimes used during birth can put too much pressure on the nerves, which can stretch or compress them irreparably. Vacuums and forceps are often used during prolonged labors in order to speed up the process. While these can be very useful tools, they can also cause this type of damage if they are wielded with too much force or not enough expertise.

If you suspect that your baby has facial paralysis, you may notice that one side of his or her face does not move in accordance with the other side. Also, you may see a droopy corner of the mouth or an uneven facial expression. The eyelid on the affected side may not close, or you may see total facial paralysis.

Doctors should treat your baby with care so that he or she does not end up with permanent nerve damage which can inhibit your child from moving his or her face. If your baby has sustained nerve damage due to doctor negligence, you should contact a birth injury attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today.

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November 27, 2010

Preventing Birth Injuries

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Bringing a child into the world is an amazing experience. It’s empowering and belittling at the same time to behold the awesome power that is creating life. A wealth of joy and happiness can take over a family at the time of birth, but, for a percentage of people, that happiness is absent as a result of a birth injury.

Birth injuries can include a number of different complications. A few examples are cerebral palsy, paralysis, brain injury and fetal distress. All of these injuries are birth injuries that can occur as a result of a doctor’s negligence, meaning that often these injuries didn’t have to occur.

So, how can these painful and unnecessary injuries be prevented? First, find a doctor that you are comfortable with. You should get as much information about as many doctors as possible, until you are satisfied that you have the right doctor to deliver your baby. Do some research through people that you know and look into doctors that have good referrals. If a doctor did a great job for someone that you know, there’s a good chance that they can do a good job for you as well. Set up appointments to meet these doctors on a personal level to be sure that you find the doctor you are comfortable with delivering your baby.

Next, both parents should research possible birth injuries to be aware of the complications that can arise during the birth process and what causes them. This will allow you to ask the doctor questions about what he does to monitor for complications. One of the biggest causes of birth injuries is that doctors are not adequately monitoring the mother and the baby. By asking questions, you can be more comfortable with how you are being cared for. Additionally, doctors are often very busy and stressed so keeping these issues on his mind can’t hurt anything. It will also show him that you are serious about not letting him or her cut any corners or take a relaxed approach to delivering your baby.

When injuries occur as a result of a doctor’s negligent action, he or she can be liable for medical malpractice and you can file suit against that doctor. It is tragic and unfortunate when birth injuries occur but you at least deserve compensation to help your family finance the resulting medical expenses. If you or someone you love has been a victim of a birth injury due to medical malpractice, you should get more information from a lawyer to find out what you can do to pursue your case.

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November 26, 2010

Fetal Head Injuries During Birth

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When you are preparing for the birth of your new baby, you are probably excitedly outfitting an infant’s room, purchasing teeny-tiny socks, and colorful baby toys. While most babies are delivered with hardly any problems, some suffer from head injuries due to the negligence of doctors and nursing staff. There are several different types of fetal head injuries that can occur and affect your baby for life.

First, many people associated baldness with older men. However, during the birthing process, your baby’s scalp can be injured so that he or she will have a permanent bald spot, called alopecia. In most cases, alopecia arises when a vacuum is used during a difficult birth. Because of the vacuum’s powerful pull on the baby’s scalp, it can damage the part of the skin that is in charge of growing hair. While this may only be a temporary loss of hair, the damage can also be so severe that your child will have a permanent bald spot.

Next, cephalohematomas do not typically cause long-term injury, but they can contribute to unsightly bumps that may take months to go away completely. With a cephalohematoma, trauma to a baby’s head during delivery causes the blood vessels that supply the scalp to tear, so that they bleed. The blood collects under the scalp, forming a large lump. Although these aren’t inherently dangerous, they can mark the site of a skull fracture, which your doctor should be sure to check and see if the cephalohematoma covers a truly serious underlying issue.

Additionally, doctors and nurses who do not handle a baby with care after it is born can contribute to abusive head trauma, commonly known as shaken baby syndrome. A newborn does not have the neck strength to hold its head steady while it is being handled. Thus, if a doctor or nurse handles the child too roughly or accidentally drops it, the motion can shake the head around. With this, the brain slides around inside the skull, which causes the brain to bruise. This can cause sensory problems such as blindness or deafness, as well as developmental delays, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy.

Doctors and their medical staff have the responsibility of keeping you and your loved ones safe from harm. If your doctor has handled forceps or vacuums with too much force during delivery, resulting in a birth injury to your child, you should consult a birth injury attorney about your rights.

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November 25, 2010

New York Mesothelioma Lawyers

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New York is the busiest city in the United States of America, where all types of people from different parts of the country make their way to earn their living. Therefore, every person has a high probability of facing an accident through the mistake of another one. In such cases, the victim who suffers such an unfortunate event has the full right to take legal action against the person responsible. This not only gives proper justice to the victim, but also gives him or her the opportunity to claim compensation for the accident.

Mesothelioma is a serious lung cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to asbestos. Most of the victims have inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers. These fibers travel through the internal organs of the victim, and through the lung. Eventually this is wedged in the thin, saran wrap-type membrane lining the lungs.

More than 3,500 workers on average are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other various diseases related to asbestos each year. In recent times, New York has been the place with the highest incidence of mesothelioma.

A victim might be infected with malignant mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma. But whatever the type may be, an ordinary citizen has the right to claim compensation from various companies if he is infected with this disease. Although recently it has been seen that President Bush is shielding companies in asbestos lawsuits, the New York-based mesothelioma lawyers are equipped to fight disease-related cases. A victim of this disease can invest all his hopes for not only getting the compensation from the companies responsible for this, but also in taking a giant leap toward eradicating the whole problem.

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November 24, 2010

Brain Injury Lawsuits

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If someone in your family has a brain injury, you know how devastating and frightening it can be. Many family members of brain injured individuals consider suing the people responsible for causing the injury, but caring for someone with a brain injury takes a lot of time and energy, and the idea of pursuing a lawsuit can be overwhelming.

A good attorney will take control of the situation, making it as stress-free as possible for their clients. Lawsuits aren’t easy, but if someone’s negligence caused the injury, seeking compensation can provide a lot of relief in terms of covering medical bills, long-term care costs, lost income and other damages.

Brain injury lawsuits are in the category of personal injury lawsuits, where the goal is proving that the defendant was negligent and that their negligence caused the injury. Some brain injuries are caused by a traumatic event, such as a car accident, others are caused by a lack of oxygen. Some are medical malpractice lawsuits, depending on the circumstances. For example, if a newborn is injured during birth and suffers brain damage as a result, the lawsuit would likely be for medical malpractice. If you are injured at work, you most likely would have a workers’ compensation claim rather than a lawsuit. It can be a bit confusing, but you don’t have to figure this out on your own - an experienced attorney will explain all your options.

If you are considering legal action, it’s important not to delay. Obviously, the health and well being of your loved one should be your top priority. But there are deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits, and if you miss the deadline, you could be barred from ever filing the lawsuit. In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit, although there are some exceptions that allow more - or even less - time. Sooner is usually better. The sooner you can meet with an attorney the sooner you can start gathering documents, interviewing witnesses, etc. If you wait, things may get lost and people may forget what happened.

Personal injury attorneys, including those who handle brain injury cases, generally charge a contingency fee. This means that you only pay your attorney if they win your case either at trial or in settlement. As general guideline, a contingency fee is around 1/3 of what you recover. If you lose, you pay nothing. It’s a risk for attorneys to take cases on a contingency, but they are willing to do so because of the possibility of a significant fee if they are able to win the case. For clients, contingency fees are attractive because there generally aren’t any fees or costs up front.

If you are thinking about a lawsuit, or wondering whether you have a good case, the first step is to get an initial consultation with an attorney. These consultations are free and give you a chance to ask the attorney a lot of questions. Look for an attorney who focuses his or her practice on personal injury and has significant experience handling brain injury cases. Ask about their past successes and what their strategy would be for your case. Ask about fees, how they keep in touch with clients, and anything else that concerns you. Don’t leave your case in the hands of just anyone. Do your research so you can have peace of mind that you’re doing everything you can for your family.

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