The NICU should be a place of healing, not harm
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has an incredibly important job: to care for newborns who are at particularly high risk due to premature birth, birth injury, or other health conditions. That’s why the nurses and doctors who work in the NICU are held to a high standard of care. When they don’t meet that standard, life-altering harm can follow.
If your child was harmed due to negligence in the NICU, we will fight for accountability and justice for your family. Here’s what you need to know about NICU medical malpractice.
What is NICU malpractice?
Medical malpractice, in general, refers to the failure to meet the applicable standard of care when diagnosing or treating a patient, resulting in harm to the patient. In the context of the NICU, this means that nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals caring for newborns in the NICU are required to meet the established standard of care for their specialty under the specific circumstances.
Examples of medical malpractice in the NICU include:
Failure to monitor the newborn’s vital signs
One of the NICU’s most important jobs is to diligently monitor the newborns for fluctuations in their heart rate, oxygen levels, and other vital signs. Even a small fluctuation can be a warning sign of a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
Failure to diagnose a medical condition
Again, because babies in the NICU are so vulnerable, a medical condition can worsen rapidly, so immediate diagnosis is critical. Failure to diagnose an infection or a respiratory issue can lead to life-threatening consequences.
Improper use of medical equipment
This includes equipment such as feeding tubes, incubators, or ventilators. NICU patients are highly dependent on these types of medical devices until they can learn to breathe, eat, and maintain their body temperature on their own.
Medication errors
Getting the dosage of any needed medications right is absolutely critical for NICU patients, since their tiny bodies are highly sensitive to the effects of medication.
Mismanagement of medical conditions
Many babies are sent to the NICU to manage specific medical conditions such as hypoglycemia, jaundice, seizures, or bleeding in the brain. Failure to treat these conditions in a timely and effective manner can lead to permanent damage.
Your legal rights if your child was injured in the NICU
An injury or untreated illness in a NICU baby is a nightmare for any parent. While not every negative outcome is the result of malpractice, if your child was harmed due to a preventable error, you can pursue compensation and accountability through a malpractice claim or lawsuit.
At the Lancione Law Firm, we realize that no lawsuit can undo the harm that was done to your child. But we can fight for the full and fair compensation your family needs to pay for their long-term care, as well as a measure of accountability and closure.
The first step is to talk to an experienced medical malpractice attorney who can explain your legal rights and options. We’ve been doing this work for decades, and we understand how to thoroughly investigate what happened and fight for justice on behalf of our clients. Contact the Lancione Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation.
"I highly recommend using this law firm for birth injury or medical malpractice cases." — Samantha H., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐