Filing a Lawsuit Against a Doctor for a Newborn Metabolic Disorder
Newborn metabolic disorder is a very serious illness that can be treated with proper screening and treatment. If a doctor fails to diagnose the condition, a newborn may suffer from permanent disability or death. Parents may be outraged and filled with anguish after receiving news that their baby is less than healthy, and that it may have been due to a doctor’s negligence.
An attorney at Wieand Law Firm, LLC has been dedicated to fighting for and representing parents who want to pursue a lawsuit against the doctor and/or medical facility for their error. If you are a parent that believes your child’s metabolic disorder could have been prevented, please contact us for more information on how to take legal action.
Types of Metabolic Disorders
While the newborn is still in the hospital, a doctor or nursing staff should abide by policies and perform routine screening to look for metabolic disorders. This screening can be what makes the difference between a baby suffering his or her entire life, or having a happy and healthy future. Prompt and accurate screening can identify whether a newborn has any of the following types of metabolic disorders:
- Galactosemia (inability to process sugar which can cause liver damage)
- Lysosomal Storage Disorder (toxic substances in lysosomes which can lead to heart damage, stroke, liver injury, and nerve damage)
- Hemochromatosis (liver damaged due to high iron levels in body)
- Wilson Disease (liver/brain damage due to toxic copper levels in system)
- Phenylketonuria (enzyme deficiency)
Symptoms of Newborn Metabolic Disorder
Newborn metabolic disorder is categorized as a genetic condition which makes it difficult for a child to obtain nutrients from food. A baby with this condition cannot absorb energy from food because his or her body cannot break down fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. If you have medical documentation which states your baby had any of the symptoms listed below, share this with your attorney at Wieand Law Firm, LLC right away. Medical paperwork can be a hugely influential piece of evidence during your lawsuit. Symptoms often associated with infant metabolic disorder include:
- Abdominal pain
- Delays in development
- Poor appetite
- Seizures
- Jaundice
- Lethargy
- Inability to gain weight
- Coma
- Significant weight loss
Symptoms of newborn metabolic disorder may be observed after being born, or within the few weeks after. Many cases of metabolic disorders can be diagnosed and treated quickly, assuming adequate medical care had been provided. A doctor must screen a newborn within 24-48 hours, but no sooner than at 12 hours old. If a doctor collects a sample for testing before that 12-hour mark, the results may not be accurate.
For your newborn metabolic disorder lawsuit, it is imperative that you gather as much evidence as possible. Examples of useful proof can be things like doctor’s exams, treatment plans, prescription medication, photographs of symptoms, witness statements, and other medical documentation.
An attorney at Wieand Law Firm, LLC can help you prepare for a lawsuit against the doctor, nurses, and/or medical facility for the major error. Please do not let time pass idly by, we can help you fight for justice and a fair amount of compensation for the mistake.
