Birth Injury Cases Are Complex

Birth injury cases are among the most complex medical malpractice cases. Birth injury cases involve many medical specialties, including obstetrics, neonatology, pediatric neurology, pediatric neuroradiology, placental, pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, labor and delivery nursing and hospital administration, policies and procedures.

We have handled a number of birth injury cases to a successful conclusion. While challenging, these cases when successful can provide the ability for enhanced lifelong care and well-being.  We have also been involved in birth injury, cases referred by former clients and by attorney colleagues. We have represented plaintiffs in Oregon, Washington, and in other states. We have developed a network of attorneys and experts who assist us, when needed, in birth injury cases.

A birth injury claim is not an easy process to navigate, but the lawyers at the Portland office of Savage Law Firm can help you through it. We have more than 40 years of experience helping clients throughout Oregon with their malpractice and birth injury claims, and we want to help you earn the justice you and your child deserve after your incident.

How Malpractice Can Hurt Your Child

When medical professionals are not cautious and focused during childbirth, their actions can cause injuries that leave a child with a lifetime of complications. Some common forms of these injuries include:

• Erb’s palsy
• Bone fractures
• Intracranial hemorrhage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Forceps and vacuum-related injuries
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)

These injuries can leave parents with considerable costs, like additional surgeries, medications, medical equipment, physical therapies, lost income and more. For children, they can suffer consequences like loss of bodily function, pain and suffering and other noneconomic costs. Our goal in these claims is to maximize the resulting settlement, so it includes these and any other costs from the injuries.

Some parents make the mistake of assuming they cannot file a claim for these injuries because too much time has passed since the harm took place. In Oregon, you have two years from the date of the injury or the date you discovered it to file a claim. While this may seem like plenty of time to get started, there is no better time than the present to let us get to work on your claim.

Other Ways That Your Child Can Be Impacted By Medical Malpractice

Fetal Ultrasounds

Fetal ultrasounds are typically performed at the end of the first trimester and at the end of the second trimester.  Fetal ultrasound studies are useful to determine if certain congenital defects are present in the fetus. When birth defects are identified on ultrasound, treatment and surgical repair can be provided in many cases to help improve the health and longevity of the newborn.

However, and feel ultrasounds are performed improperly, or when the ultrasound study is read incorrectly, this can lead to a delay in obtaining the necessary treatment or a surgical repair. This can have devastating consequences to a newborn.

We have been involved in a number of fetal ultrasound cases that have disclosed an incorrect ultrasound method or a misreading of the ultrasound.  In some cases, the policies and procedures for field ultrasounds have been found to be lacking. We have worked with national experts in fetal ultrasound cases to help obtain recovery for our clients.

Sepsis & Infections

Sepsis is a leading cause of death in America.  Sepsis must be treated early and aggressively to avoid devastating consequences. These consequences can include loss of limbs and death. In many cases, laboratory studies can help detect the presence of sepsis.  However, when laboratory studies are not performed or when lab results are ignored, delay in treatment may occur.

The devastating consequences of sepsis are avoidable in many cases when appropriate treatment is provided in a timely fashion.

Sepsis cases customarily involve issues of lifelong disability and rehabilitation. Sepsis cases can also involve specialized life care planning and investment of settlement proceeds to ensure ongoing treatment and rehabilitation over the course of a lifetime.  We work with medical experts, as well as financial advisors and trustees, to ensure the proper investment of settlement proceeds in every case.

Emergency Room Cases

When a patient is in the emergency department, emergency physicians should consider a “worst first” approach in order to rule out life-threatening conditions. This is done through the use of a differential diagnosis. However, when a differential diagnosis is not used, or when it is used in properly, important clinical findings may be overlooked.  Decision-making may be adversely affected to the detriment of the patient.

We have been involved with countless emergency room cases. We have developed relationships with medical experts to assist us in these cases. We have the benefit of MD JD (medical doctor with law degree) colleagues who assist us in evaluating emergency room cases.

Delayed Diagnosis Of Cancer

Delaying the diagnosis of cancer can be devastating. Sadly, delayed diagnosis of cancer cases involve both adults and children.  In every delayed diagnosis of cancer case, the central issue is always whether earlier discovery and treatment would have likely changed the outcome. In some cases, this is relatively easy to identify. However, in other cases, this analysis becomes extremely complex and may even be uncertain.

We have available to us oncology experts to help evaluate delayed diagnosis of cancer cases. We also have life care, planners, and physical medicine and rehab rehabilitation experts to help identify lifelong issues resulting from a delay in cancer treatment.

Opthamology/Eye Cases

The human eye is an extremely complex structure. The field of ophthalmology involves various sub-specialties for treatment of issues involving the cornea, retina, optic nerve, thyroid, eye, disease, occuloplastic issues (involving structures surrounging the eye), and more.  We have been involved with ophthalmology cases in each of these sub specialties.

Let Our Team Help Your Family

We understand the delicate nature of these cases, and we are a law firm that cares just as much about the outcome of these cases as our clients do. If you are ready to file your birth injury claim or you want to learn more about how we can help, call us at 503-766-5337 or email us here for your free initial consultation today.