Fayetteville, AR Attorney for Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia from Birth Injury

It can be devastating for a parent to learn their newborn has suffered a severe birth injury. This revelation is even more difficult when it becomes apparent that the child was injured due to the negligence of a doctor. An incident of malpractice could lead to a newborn needing extensive medical treatment, like neonatal therapeutic hypothermia, to recover from their birth injury. If your child was a victim of medical malpractice and requires neonatal therapeutic hypothermia, consult with an experienced Fayetteville birth injury attorney for neonatal therapeutic hypothermia.

Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, has fought for victims of medical malpractice for over 20 years, and he would be honored to fight for you. Ken Kieklak recognizes how a birth injury can substantially impact a child’s life, and he is here for you in your time of need. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential claim, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438. You can also contact the firm online.

How Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia Works

Neonatal therapeutic hypothermia is a new medical treatment that is utilized for infants that experienced a loss of oxygen during birth. This treatment requires a doctor to lower the body temperature of the infant immediately after the loss of oxygen in order to decrease the risk of the infant suffering brain damage. The hypothermia treatment at about 33 degrees Celsius typically lasts for about three days.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the reason the temperature of the child is lowered is because of extensive research that indicates that a low body temperature makes it easier to heal. Neonatal therapeutic hypothermia has become a popular treatment to prevent brain damage because of how quickly it works to prevent damage to the brain. For example, if a child is deprived of oxygen for even one minute, there is a high chance they may sustain brain damage.

Note, however, if your child requires neonatal therapeutic hypothermia at birth, there is a possibility they suffered a birth injury that could be attributed to a doctor’s negligence. To learn more about the medical conditions that can require hypothermia treatment, continue reading and speak with an experienced Fayetteville birth injury lawyer.

Birth Injuries that Require Neonatal Hypothermia Treatment in Fayetteville, AR

As mentioned, neonatal therapeutic hypothermia is a treatment to prevent a baby from suffering brain damage. If your child was deprived of oxygen during delivery, any injuries sustained due to this incident might be the result of malpractice.

One way that a child could be cut off from oxygen during birth is when the umbilical cord becomes tangled around their neck. In some cases, a child may be able to untangle themselves by simply shifting in the womb. However, if a true knot forms in the umbilical cord, a doctor should take steps to protect the child during birth. For example, a doctor could suggest that a mother consent to a cesarean section.

Another possibility is that a child could suffocate because of a mother had a prolonged labor. For example, if a baby remained in the birth canal for an extended period of time, this could cause them to lose oxygen.

When a doctor does not take steps to protect a newborn from losing oxygen during delivery, there is a possibility they could be held liable for medical malpractice.

When to File a Birth Injury Lawsuit for Neonatal Hypothermia in Fayetteville, AR

If your child was a victim of medical malpractice and required hypothermia treatment, you should consider filing a lawsuit against the party responsible. However, you should also be aware that your medical malpractice lawsuit is subject to the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations determines the amount of time that a potential plaintiff has to file a certain type of lawsuit. This means that there are different filing deadlines depending on the circumstances of your case.

In Arkansas, the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years from the date of the malpractice. If the plaintiff does not file their claim within two years, they will be unable to pursue compensation for their case. For example, the defendant in the case, can move to dismiss the case. If this occurs, the court will dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the plaintiff cannot refile their case.

You should also be aware that if you are filing a medical malpractice lawsuit on behalf of your child, the statute of limitations could be changed. It is vital to speak with an experienced attorney to help you understand whether this could affect the filing deadline in your case.

Two years is not a significant amount of time to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. You should avoid waiting too long to speak with an attorney. Waiting too long to file your case could make it challenging to find an attorney to take the case on short notice.

Consult with Our Experienced Fayetteville Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia Caused by Birth Injury Lawyer

If your child suffered a brain injury and needed neonatal therapeutic hypothermia, you should contact an experienced Fayetteville birth injury lawyer for neonatal therapeutic hypothermia. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, is committed to helping victims of medical malpractice hold negligent doctors responsible for their actions. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential claim, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438. You can also contact the firm online.