Fetal heart rate monitoring is used during labor to evaluate any distress the fetus is undergoing prior to delivery — and to prevent oxygen deprivation resulting in a brain damaged baby. The monitoring consists of assessment of the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat of the fetus. The average fetal heart rate is between 110… Read More
Treating Seizures in Newborns
We often represent parents of a child seriously injured during birth. Any time a newborn child has health problems, it can be frightening and overwhelming for the parents. This may be especially true when a newborn suffers from seizures. This unfortunate situation is only compounded by the fact that anti-seizure medications which are often effective… Read More
Vacuum Extraction in Childbirth
In today’s column, our Chicago birth injury attorneys discuss vacuum extraction during childbirth. Vacuum extractors are exactly what they sound like. When vacuum extraction is used in a vaginal childbirth, a soft cup is applied to the top of the baby’s head to create a suction, which creates traction and allows the obstetrician to draw… Read More
Pitocin and Medical Malpractice
Many women in recent years have been helped by Pitocin or oxytocin, drugs used to induce labor or speed it up once it has begun. But the use of Pitocin has now skyrocketed, to the point where in many labor and delivery units, the administration of Pitocin has become standard in nearly every birth, simply… Read More
Fetal Distress: A Primer
Today, our top Chicago birth injury lawyers discuss a common precursor to injuries at birth: fetal distress. What Is Fetal Distress? Fetal distress occurs when an infant – either in utero or during the childbirth process – suffers from a compromised oxygen supply. While fetal distress is a single condition, it can in turn be… Read More
Hypoxic-Anoxic Brain Injury: A Closer Look
Throughout March, in recognition of National Brain Injury Awareness Month, Our Chicago brain injury attorneys have been exploring the various types of brain injury, as well as the causes, symptoms, and consequences of each. Today, we take a closer look at hypoxic-anoxic brain injury, a type of nontraumatic brain injury which can be especially severe… Read More
Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy
Neonatal brachial plexus palsy (BPP), also known as Erb’s palsy (or Duchenne-Erb’s palsy), is a serious condition that can effect newborns as a result of accident or medical negligence at birth. The brachial plexus is a collection of nerves (called the ventral rami) which runs from the spinal column through the neck, behind the collarbone,… Read More
No Expert Testimony Required for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
The Illinois Supreme Court has made it easier for personal injury lawyers and their clients to prove a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. In Thornton v. Garcini, 2009 WL 3471065, No. 107028 (Ill. Oct. 29, 2009), the Supreme Court held that “expert testimony is not required to support a claim for negligent infliction… Read More