It is essential for a newborn to receive all the nutrients they need to grow. This can be difficult if the child has shown that they have issues with sucking, eating, or swallowing. In some cases, difficulty with eating may be a sign that a child has developed a more serious condition. If a birth injury caused your child to have difficulty eating or swallowing, you should consult with an experienced Miami attorney for infant difficulty sucking, eating, or swallowing from a birth injury today.
Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA recognize the dangers of a child being unable to eat, and we are here to help you pursue a claim against a medical practitioner that is responsible for your child’s medical issue. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676.
Common Causes of Infant Difficulty Sucking, Eating, or Swallowing
After the birth of a child, many mothers will turn to breastfeeding to ensure that a child receives the nutrients they need to grow. However, some newborns may experience difficulty latching during breastfeeding or even when feeding with formula. When a newborn refuses to eat or has shown difficulty swallowing, this may be evidence that there is a larger problem.
Cerebral palsy and brain hemorrhages are two medical conditions that could explain why a child has issues with sucking, eating, or swallowing. While it may seem extreme to suggest that a newborn has one of these conditions due to an inability to eat, there are other signs and symptoms that can help you and a doctor determine the truth.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy consists of a number of disorders that substantially affects a person’s muscle control and motor skills. If a child is having problems during feeding, it can be attributed to the symptoms of cerebral palsy. For example, a child with cerebral palsy may have poor muscle control in the muscles in their face, which can make it extremely difficult to consume food.
Other common signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy include issues with walking, posture, and unnatural spastic movements and reflexes. If you observe your child exhibiting any of these symptoms on top of difficulty eating, you should have your child examined by a doctor. Learning about your child’s condition as soon as possible can help with treatment and developing ways that they can consume food.
While cerebral palsy is a disorder that typically affects a person’s muscles, the condition is caused when a child suffers from brain damage. As a result, many cases of cerebral palsy may be associated with medical malpractice. If a doctor does not provide a mother and her unborn child with adequate before, during, and after childbirth, he or she could be held liable for the child’s injuries at birth.
Brain Hemorrhage
A brain hemorrhage occurs when a baby experiences bleeding in the brain, often caused by some type of head trauma. For example, if a mother is set to deliver a larger than average baby, it may be safer for the mother to give birth via cesarean section. However, if a doctor does not present this option, they could be liable if a child’s head becomes stuck in the birth canal, and a brain hemorrhage occurs.
Brain hemorrhages can cause a number of issues for newborns. The child could experience weakness in certain areas of the body, have issues with energy, or even suffer from seizures.
There may be other conditions that can explain why your child has trouble swallowing or sucking. Having your child seen by an experienced doctor can help you narrow down the true issue. To learn more about who can be held liable for a birth injury that caused a child to sustain a brain hemorrhage or develop cerebral palsy, continue reading and speak with an experienced birth injury lawyer.
Determining Liability for Medical Malpractice Involving Infants in Miami
If your child suffered a serious birth injury before, during, or after childbirth in Miami, you should pursue a lawsuit against the parties responsible. There could be multiple parties that are liable for a newborn’s birth injuries depending on the circumstances of a case.
To hold a hospital liable for the negligence of a doctor, the doctor must be employed by the hospital when the malpractice occurred. Under these circumstances, the hospital can be held vicariously liable for the negligent actions of the doctor. This means that any illicit actions committed within the scope of the doctor’s employment can be imputed to their employer.
If a doctor was operating as an independent contractor when they caused the birth injury, a claimant may have to pursue a lawsuit against the doctor personally. It is important to note that doctors are not required to provide patients with impeccable medical care. This means that minor injuries may not be considered as medical malpractice under some circumstances. A doctor is held up to the standard of other medical practitioners in the same field and with similar experience. To prove a doctor violated this standard, a plaintiff may need the help of an expert witness.
Contact Our Experienced Miami Lawyers for Infant Difficulty Sucking, Eating, and Swallowing Due to Birth Injury
If you are concerned that a doctor caused your child to develop cerebral palsy, contact an experienced Miami lawyer for infant difficulty sucking or eating caused by birth injury today. Medical malpractice lawyer Prosper Shaked possesses extensive legal experience and a desire to help you file a claim against a negligent doctor. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact us today.