Medical professionals have a duty to determine the health of newborns and take prompt action to address any problems. Failure to do so can result in a birth injury that has lifelong consequences. The birth injury attorneys at Jeffrey M. Goldberg Law Offices, PC hold negligent medical professionals accountable when they neglect to take these steps.
One assessment that medical professionals use is the Apgar Score. Apgar is a test that is performed 1 minute, 5 minutes and 10 minutes after birth to assess the health of newborns. Developed in 1952 by an obstetrical anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar, it is still used today.
During an Apgar assessment, a doctor examines a newborn and assigns points based on:
Apgar is also sometimes referred to in terms of Appearance (color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex response), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration. Generally, an Apgar score between 7 and 10 indicates a healthy baby. A lower score may indicate that the baby needs medical intervention. When this intervention is not taken, newborns can suffer serious health consequences.
Apgar scores are often used in medical malpractice claims involving birth injury as evidence that a baby was suffering from oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) or neurological damage. Medical professionals have a responsibility to act quickly and do everything they can to protect a baby’s health when an Apgar score is low.
When medical professionals are negligent, they will usually deny it. Hospitals and insurance companies know there’s a lot of money at stake. This is why they have high-priced lawyers to protect them and prevent you from recovering the financial compensation you deserve.
If your child has suffered a birth injury, we know what you and your family are going through. Our birth injury lawyers have been helping families just like yours for more than 45 years. We know the physical, emotional, and financial toll that birth injuries can take, and we know how to fight for your rights and get results.
As a result of a birth injury, your child may require lifelong care. This could involve regular medical treatment, therapy, medication, and home health care assistance. The cost of this care can be overwhelming, but if negligence by a medical professional caused the birth injury, you should not have to pay.
Our firm builds strong cases based on evidence – including Apgar scores, lab results, imaging findings, witness statements, and the testimony of medical experts. We know how to prove when negligence was responsible for the birth injury your child suffered, and we hold negligent parties accountable.
We serve clients in Illinois, Wisconsin, and other states and have recovered millions for clients. Learn more about how one of our birth injury lawyers can help you. Contact us for a free consultation with one of our birth injury attorneys.