Learning that your baby has been injured at birth can be devastating news. You might feel scared, angry, confused, or unsure of what to do. All of these emotions are normal. Contacting a birth injury attorney may be the next step in finding out what happened to your baby—and seeking justice for him or her. Below, we outline some important things to consider when looking for a birth injury attorney.
For many years, maternal death has been a devastatingly prevalent problem in the U.S. Studies also show that maternal mortality rates in the southern parts of the country are grave, including in Georgia.
Children born with brain injuries may develop cerebral palsy - a disorder that affects a person’s ability to control movement and posture. Cerebral palsy often impacts a child’s development, such as meeting certain milestones, like sitting, crawling, and walking. Certain therapies may help manage the symptoms associated with the condition.
Some of these therapies involve new technology to assist kids with waking. In Arizona, a new robotic device is helping children with cerebral palsy learn to walk. The AreTech ZeroG Gait and Balance System is an assistive device that hangs from the ceiling, attached to a track. Patients strap into a harness, controlled by a robotic box. The device supports the patient’s weight and protects from falling while the patient practices crawling, walking, or other motor skills.
Another device that will be made available to people with cerebral palsy (as well as those who have had a stroke or have multiple sclerosis) next year is the Neural Sleeve. The device is a bionic leg wrap that uses artificial intelligence and electrodes to direct the user’s gait. It is like a remote control for the patient’s leg, which corrects walking patters to help the brain relearn how to move the legs in sync.
Stem cells have been studied for a long time, due to their potential to treat or prevent injuries and certain medical conditions. Researchers have studied these “master cells” with enthusiasm, due to their ability to generate new types of cells with special purposes. People with spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and other conditions may benefit from stem cell therapies because of the cells’ ability to potentially repair, restore, or regenerate healthy cells.
Every June, we recognize U.S. World Infertility Awareness Month to increase awareness of the various infertility issues that many couples face. This includes male and female infertility, as well as women who miscarry.
Infertility is perhaps more common than many people think: according to the CDC, about 1 in 5 women are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Women may also have difficulty staying pregnant if they do finally conceive, and may miscarry. About 10 to 15 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to the March of Dimes.
Many parents may not be aware that infants, just like older adults, can also suffer a stroke. When this happens, it is called a perinatal stroke. Perinatal strokes occur when there is a disruption in blood flow to a major cerebral artery. It has been estimated that 1 in 5,000 newborns may experience this kind of stroke, though the occurrence may be higher given undiagnosed strokes. Perinatal strokes usually happens in the first few days after birth, and may lead to conditions like cerebral palsy, depending on which area(s) of the brain were affected.
A new study suggests a potential way to treat hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, in newborns. Caused by a lack of oxygen or blood flow to a baby’s brain during labor or delivery, HIE may result in catastrophic brain damage that can lead to permanent disabilities or conditions such as cerebral palsy. HIE is a common cause of disability in newborns, and thus important for scientists to study the condition and develop treatment options.
Earning a college degree is a dream for many people. Graduating this spring from Hardin-Simmons University with plans of pursuing a career in writing is a student who has cerebral palsy. He was born prematurely and developed the neurological condition. He first learned to walk using a walker and transitioned into a wheelchair. His love of storytelling and superheroes spurred his interest in becoming a writer.
In April 2016, a Black mother died just hours after giving birth via C-section to her second son at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. When the woman’s husband noticed blood in her catheter bag, there was a significant delay in identifying the source of the bleeding. By the time she received care, it was too late. The autopsy later revealed massive internal bleeding following the planned C-section to be the cause of death.
