Minnesota NICU Injuries Lawyer
Welcoming a new baby into the family should be a time of celebration. When parents learn their child suffers from an injury or medical condition that requires specialized treatment, it is devastating. Newborns sometimes have to be admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) shortly after they are born so they can receive the care they need. Unfortunately, hearing that a child needs to be admitted into the NICU is not always the worst case scenario for parents.
Medical professionals in the NICU can make errors just as any other healthcare worker. Newborns are extremely fragile though, and even the smallest mistake can cause them irreparable harm. If your newborn has suffered an NICU injury, a Minnesota NICU lawyer can help you file a medical malpractice claim for damages that can help offset the financial burden of it.
What NICU Injuries are Most Common?
Newborns can suffer multiple types of injuries while they are receiving treatment in the NICU. Some of the most common of these are as follows:
- Complications resulting from a failure to identify or treat hypoglycemic newborns
- Lack of oxygen, known as hypoxia
- Brain injuries resulting from hypoxia, a condition known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA or bacterial infections
- Injuries resulting from feeding tubes, IV lines, and central lines that are not positioned correctly
- Infections resulting from incorrect treatment or delayed treatment
- Hypothermia
- Seizures
When a newborn suffers an injury while receiving treatment in the NICU, it is usually a result of negligent medical personnel. Parents can file a medical malpractice claim against careless healthcare professionals who do not provide infants with the proper standard of care.
Valuing a Claim After an NICU Injury
The financial compensation available in medical malpractice claims is legally known as damages. In other medical malpractice claims, some of the most common damages include lost income and loss of consortium. These damages are not available in NICU injury claims because newborns do not work, nor have they formed intimate relationships. Still, there are some ways to value a claim after your child has suffered from an NICU injury. The most important considerations when valuing these claims are:
- The long-term disabilities your child has suffered
- The therapy your child will require
- The medical care your child will need
- Any additional support, such as physiotherapy or vocational therapy
- Any additional help with your child’s education or schooling
- Whether you can provide for the needs of your child yourself
- Whether you can afford the care your child needs
A Minnesota NICU lawyer can review the facts of your case to determine the full damages your family is entitled to.
Call Our NICU Lawyer in Minnesota for a Free Consultation
No child should ever suffer an injury while in the NICU. If your child has been hurt, our Minnesota NICU lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, can help. We are committed to helping families claim the damages they deserve to offset the financial burden of NICU injuries and we want to help you, too. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
