About Cleveland Birth Inury Lawyer (Attorney)

How did it happen to my child?

• Do you know the cause?
• Was medical malpractice responsible?
• Do you have a child who has been diagnosed as having a developmental disability, neurological disorder, mental retardation, cerebral palsy or similar conditions?
• What damages can your child recover fox malpractice?
• Can money be awarded without affecting current benefits?
• Who will care for your child when you are gone?
• Isn't it time you had answers to these questions?

I. WHAT ARE THE FACTS
In a medical malpractice claim a source of facts and information that should not be overlooked are the mother, family and friends. A chronology of dates, events, and statements should be initialed by the claimant for review and evaluation. All prenatal labor and delivery and neonatal medical records should be obtained and presented for review. If the mother has a high-risk history previous obstetric pregnancy records should be obtained.

Birth injuries are those injuries sustained during the birth process, which includes labor and delivery. Birth injuries may be avoidable, or they may be unavoidable and occur despite skilled and competent obstetric care.

II. TIMING OF THE INSULT OR INJURY
MRI IMAGING STUDIES ARE MANDATORY IN DETERMDUNG CAUSATION IN NEONATAL AND INFANT BRAIN INJURY CASES

Injuries caused by infection, trauma, strokes toxic substances, congenital defects, metabolic disorders, kernicterus and hypoxia may bi. seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans,

FETAL MONITORING CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE THE TIME OF BIRTH INJURIES

POST-DELIVERY CLINICAL DATA CAN BE USED IN DETERMINING THE TIMING OF BIRTH INJURIES

III. PRENATAL CAUSES FOR BRAIN INJURY
A. Placental insufficiency
B. Infection in utexo
C. Chromosomal anomalies
D. Anoxia in utexo
E. Teratogenics and drugs
F. Miscellaneous trauma
G. Systemic illnesses

IV. PRENATAL TESTS
A. Non-stress
B. Biophysical profile
C. Oxytoein challenge test
D. Amniocentesis
E. Sonograms
F. Alpha-fetoprotein
G. Doppler waveform
H. Chorlonic villus sapling (CVS)

INJURY OBSTETRICAL NEGLIGENCE MAY CAUSE
1. Erb's palsy
2. Facial Palsy
3. Spinal cord injuries
4. Wrongful death/stillbirth
5. Shoulder Distocia
6. Forceps injury

THE THOMPSON LAW FIRM
PRENATAL RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

Client:
Estimated Delivery Date:
OBGYN:
Address:

AT RISK OF PRETERM BIRTH Obstetrical History:
1. Preterm Delivery
2. DES Exposure
3. Cone Biopsy
4. Second Trimester Abortion
5.1st Trimester Spontaneous Abortions (more than 2) Current Pregnancy:
6. Uterine Anomaly or Fibroids
7. Multiple Gestation
8. Abdominal Surgery
9. Cervix Dilated (more than 1.5 cm before 29 weeks)
10. Cervix Effaced (less than 1 cm before 29 weeks)
11. Irritable Uterus (more than 6 contractions per hour confirmed)
12. Polyhydramnios
13. Bleeding (if significant after 12 weeks)
14. Pyelonephritis
15. Preterm Labor
16. Smoking (more than 10 cigarettes per day)
17. PROM (Premature Rupture of the Membrane) (confirmed)

AT RISK OF POOR PREGNANCY OUTCOME Obstetrical History:
18. Infant Death (stillborn, neonatal, post neonatal)
19. Congenital Anomaly (major)
20. Low Birth Weight (less than 2500 g.)
21. Eclampsia (or severe preeclampsia)
22. Incomplete Cervix Current Pregnancy:
23. Heart Disease (class III or IV)
24. Diabetes (insulin dependant)
25. Sickle Cell Anemia (or other hemoglobinopathy)
26. Malignancy or Leukemia
27. Thyroid Disease
28. Epilepsy (or anticonvulsant)
29. Hepatitis (or chronic liver disease)
30. Asthma (on medication)
31. Tuberculosis (active)
32. Pneumonia
33. Hypertension (on medication)
34. Deep Venous Thrombosis
35. Placenta Previa (3rd trimester)
36. Oligohydramnios
37. Eclampsia (or preeclampsia)
38. Alloimmunization (associated with fetal disease)
39. Rubella Exposure (with rising titer)
40. Positive Serology
41. Active Herpes (or positive culture, 3rd trimester)
42. Primagravida (less than 17 years or more than 35 years)
43. Familial Genetic Disorder (confirmed)
44. Psychosis
45. Mental Retardation
46. Drug/Alcohol Abuse
47. HIV
48. Prior C?Section
49. Prenatal Care Non?Compliance (most recent pregnancy)
50. Grand Multipara (more than 5 of 20 weeks or more)
51. Recent Delivery (less than 1 year)
52. Late Initial Visit (after 14 weeks of pregnancy)
53. Missed Prenatal Appointments (2 consecutive)
54. Age (less than 17 years or more than 35 years)
55. Height (less than 5 foot)
56. Obesity (more than 20% weight for height)
57. Underweight (more than 10% for height)
58. Weight Loss (continuing after 14 weeks)
59. Anemia (less than 10 Hgb or less than 30 % Hct.)
60. Gonorrhea (positive culture)
61. Diabetes (gestational, diet controlled)
62. Chronic Bronchitis
63. Trauma (requiring hospitalization)
64. Illiteracy (or language barrier)
65. Domestic Violence
66. Other

QUICKLIST FOR SUMMARIZING ANTEPARTUM CARE
ANTEPARTUM TESTING

	CIRCLE ONE:
Non-stress Test:	Reactive	or	Nonreactive
Contraction Stress Test:	Positive	or	Negative
	Suspicious	or	Unsatisfactory
Oxytocin Challenge Test:	Positive	or	Negative
	Suspicious	or	Unsatisfactory
Biophysical Profile:	Normal	or	Abnormal

POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS

NO PRENATAL CARE	BLEEDING
HYPERTENSION	PREECLAMPSIA
ECLAMPSIA	DIABETES
OLIGOHYDRAMINIOS	POLYHDRAMNIOS
PLACENTAL ABRUPTION	PLACENTA PREVIA
CHORIOAMNIONITIS	OTHER INFECTION
PREMATURITY	POSTMATURITY
STILLBIRTH	MULTIPLE BIRTH
PRETERM RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES	CORD COMPRESSION
UTEROPLACENTAL INSUFFICIENCY	GRWOTH RETARDATION
MATERNAL TOBACCO USE	MECONIUM STAINING
MATERNAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE	PROLAPSED CORD
MATERNAL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION	PRETERM LABOR

Disclaimer

The above is not legal advice. That can only come from a qualified attorney who is familiar with all the facts and circumstances of a particular, specific case and the relevant law. See Terms of Use. The birth injury information offered by Cleveland Birth Injury Lawyer and contained herein, regarding Cleveland birth injury statutes and Cleveland birth injury claimants' rights is general in scope. No birth injury Cleveland attorney client relationship with our Cleveland birth injury attorneys is hereby formed nor is the negligent death information herein intended as formal legal advice. Please contact a Cleveland personal injury birth injury lawyer regarding your specific inquiry.