During labor, it is not uncommon to find meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Yet, only a small percentage of neonates develop meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Even fewer suffer permanent neurological injury. Consequently, the presence of meconium alone rarely establishes negligence. This is why birth injury litigation focuses on the clinicians’ response as the infant’s condition evolved. Plaintiffs […]
In many birth injury cases, the presence of chorioamnionitis is not the central dispute. Medical records may establish that maternal infection or inflammation existed during labor. Instead, litigation considers a more consequential question: did clinicians recognize that the inflammatory process had progressed to a point requiring intervention before permanent fetal injury occurred? Moreover, was chorioamnionitis […]
In many birth injury cases, there is no dispute that the infant ultimately developed neonatal encephalopathy. Instead, litigation asks whether the diagnosis happened within an hour or six—and whether it came too late to preserve opportunities that may have limited permanent neurological injuries. Failure to diagnose neonatal encephalopathy quickly has significant consequences. Should the evidence […]
Internal fetal monitoring is used to obtain more direct measurements of fetal heart rate and uterine activity during labor. Typically, internal monitoring requires a fetal scalp electrode and, in some cases, an intrauterine pressure catheter. Because these devices record signals from within the uterus, they are often viewed as providing greater accuracy than external monitoring. […]
Neonatal hypoglycemia presents a time-sensitive risk to the developing brain. Glucose is the primary energy source for neonatal cerebral function, but sustained or recurrent low levels can result in neurological injury. In litigation, cases involving missed hypoglycemia focus on whether risk factors were identified, whether glucose levels were appropriately monitored, and whether abnormal findings were […]