Lake Charles Cystic Fibrosis Birth Injury Lawyers
Birth injuries are sometimes obvious in the labor and delivery room, and sometimes, the effects of an injury do not show up for several days, weeks, or even months after birth. These are some of the most devastating types of injuries that a family can face.
The legal team at Veron Bice, LLC understands that negligent or wrongful actions of healthcare providers can result in expensive medical treatments and lifelong consequences for you and your child. Our Lake Charles birth injury lawyers will aggressively fight to protect your right to fair compensation for the suffering you and your child must endure.
We recognize that every case is unique, so our experienced and compassionate attorneys take the time to learn the details of your case. We use those details to develop strategies to aggressively negotiate with the insurance companies or skillfully litigate your case in court.
You need an experienced team of lawyers who are familiar with birth injuries to get the justice you deserve. Call our office today at 337-310-1600 for your free consultation and case evaluation.
What Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that affects one protein in the body that directs the production of mucus. The human body normally produces slippery mucus to protect the lining of organs and tissues, including the digestive tract and the airways.
The altered protein gene in people with cystic fibrosis causes the mucus to become thick and sticky instead of thin and slippery. This can lead to a buildup of mucus in the organs. This buildup can block or damage the lungs and digestive tract.
Inflammation can also damage the lungs and pancreas. A buildup of sick mucus predisposes the area to infection. Some people may have few or no symptoms, depending on the severity of the genetic alteration. Other people can have severe, life-threatening complications.
The most common complications from cystic fibrosis are in the respiratory tract. These complications include blockages and serious lung infections. A buildup of sticky mucus in the digestive tract reduces the number of nutrients that children and adults can absorb.
Children may present with failure to thrive, or delayed growth from a lack of nutrition, despite eating enough food. The mucus also prevents proteins from the pancreas from reaching the intestinal tract, which contributes to poor digestion and absorption.
These factors increase the risk of people with cystic fibrosis developing other health conditions. This can include arthritis, reflux, liver disease, and diabetes.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists currently recommend that every pregnant woman should be given information about carrier screening and counseled about their reproductive risks and options based on the screening results.
However, carrier screening does not cover all cystic fibrosis mutations, so all babies should also be checked soon after birth as a part of their newborn screening.
How Is Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosed?
Consistent newborn screening for Cystic Fibrosis is relatively recent. This means there may still be young people and adults who have not been screened or diagnosed. The test that’s used to diagnose cystic fibrosis will depend on the age of the child.
For newborn screening, a small amount of blood is collected and passed through a special machine that measures immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) in the blood. This is a substance that’s made in the pancreas and will be higher in newborns who have cystic fibrosis.
If the test is elevated, a second test will be done to look for genetic changes. Even if cystic fibrosis screening during pregnancy was negative, newborns are also screened to protect the health of the child.
In children or adults, a physician may order a sweat test or a genetic test. A sweat test measures the amount of chloride in sweat. This was the first test introduced in 1959, and it remains highly accurate.
If the sweat test is positive, the doctor may order a genetic test to rule out a false positive test. This is because sweat chloride levels may also be elevated in other health conditions.
How Diagnosis Affects Treatment and Management
The goal of treatment and management for children with cystic fibrosis is to maintain clear airways, use dietary treatments that improve absorption of nutrition, and prescribe medications that can help reduce inflammation and thin the mucus secretion.
Data shows that children who receive early treatment can experience healthy growth and development and experience less damage to their organs and respiratory tract. If prenatal screening or newborn screening is not performed, an infant with cystic fibrosis may not receive the necessary early treatment that can extend and improve their life.
Who May Be Liable
The individuals who are liable for cystic fibrosis birth injuries depend on the situation in which the child was born. For example, if the doctor who manages your pregnancy or the pediatrician who cares for the newborn does not do the appropriate screening, the child may not be treated early.
In this case, the physician or pediatrician may be liable for the physical injuries the child suffers. If the pregnancy is the result of using a sperm, egg, or embryo donor, the donor service could be liable if the sperm and egg were not first screened for Cystic fibrosis.
Additionally, a testing facility may be liable if a mistake was made in genetic testing that was conducted before pregnancy.
How an Experienced Birth Injury Attorney Can Help
Although your obstetrician and pediatrician cannot prevent your child from being born with cystic fibrosis, when the necessary screenings are performed, your child has the best opportunity to reach their full potential.
If you discover that your child has cystic fibrosis and was not properly screened, the steps you take next could have a significant impact on the outcome of your legal case. The legal team at Veron Bice, LLC recommends that you seek treatment for your child as soon as you recognize that something is wrong.
Any testing or follow-up appointments should be completed. We recommend our clients keep a journal of the timeline of events, symptoms their child is experiencing, and treatments and prescriptions that are recommended.
Finally, it is crucial to seek legal representation from an experienced Lake Charles birth injury lawyer. You and your child should not have to suffer the lifelong consequences of someone else’s careless mistake. Our legal team includes aggressive negotiators and skilled litigators who will fight hard for your right to compensation.
We recognize that no amount of money can make up for your child’s injuries. Yet, compensation can help relieve the financial burdens that often accompany a significant medical diagnosis. This can help you focus on the health of your child and your family without worrying about your finances too.
Call Veron Bice, LLC Today for Help
When you are learning how to care for your child and paying expensive medical bills, the last thing you need to do is negotiate with insurance companies. When you hire our team, we’ll relieve your burden and handle every aspect of the case for you.
We have the resources you need to fight hard for justice for your family. You can depend on us to stand with you and provide support throughout your entire case. Call the Lake Charles birth injury attorneys of Veron Bice, LLC today at 337-310-1600 to schedule your free consultation and case evaluation.
