Fairfax, VA Infant Death Lawyer

Compassionate Infant Wrongful Death Lawyers Seeking Justice for Families in Fairfax, Virginia

The death of a child can be devastating for a family. When a baby dies during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, parents and other family members will experience profound grief. The emotional trauma may be even worse if a child's death was caused by medical negligence. Family members may feel robbed of the relationship they should have been able to have with a child, and they may want to seek justice for the issues that ended a child's life before it even began.

The attorney at Shevlin Smith, P.C. provides compassionate representation for families in Fairfax who have experienced tragic losses because of negligent care during childbirth. He approaches every case involving infant death with deep respect for what families have endured, and he is committed to helping them understand how they can address the devastating harm they have suffered. He will take steps to establish what happened, show that negligence occurred, and obtain compensation that will help a family move forward.

Reasons Why Babies May Die Due to Medical Negligence

Failure to Monitor and Respond to Fetal Distress

During labor, electronic monitoring will provide information about the baby's condition, including whether it is receiving enough oxygen. Certain fetal heart rate patterns may indicate that a baby is experiencing fetal distress, which will require an immediate response. Oxygen deprivation during labor can lead to severe brain damage and organ damage that may become fatal if it is not addressed correctly.

Nurses may be responsible for failing to recognize heart rate patterns that indicate fetal distress or failing to escalate the issue to a physician. An obstetrician may be responsible for failing to respond to fetal distress and take steps to immediately deliver the baby in order to prevent serious or fatal injuries.

Delayed C-Sections

An emergency cesarean delivery may be necessary in cases where a baby is experiencing fetal distress. The decision to perform a C-section will need to be made quickly, and the procedure must be completed without any unnecessary delays. Infant death can occur when a surgical team is not assembled quickly enough, or when the decision to perform a C-section is made too late to save a baby.

Errors during a C-section may also lead to infant death in some cases. A baby may be injured during the surgical procedure due to improper use of scalpels or other instruments. Failure to deliver the baby quickly enough can prevent it from receiving enough oxygen, which may lead to death.

Umbilical Cord Complications

The umbilical cord is the baby's sole source of oxygen and nutrition during pregnancy and labor. Complications affecting the umbilical cord can quickly become life-threatening. An umbilical cord prolapse may occur in which the cord protrudes through the cervix ahead of the baby. This can cause the umbilical cord to become compressed, cutting off blood flow and leading to oxygen deprivation. If nurses or other personnel do not recognize an umbilical cord prolapse or take the correct steps to relieve the pressure on the cord, a baby may die due to a lack of oxygen.

In some cases, the umbilical cord may become wrapped around a baby's neck, or a cord may become twisted or knotted, affecting blood flow and the delivery of oxygen to the baby. Failure to recognize and address these issues may lead to fatal injuries.

Placenta Complications

The umbilical cord is attached to the placenta, which provides blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the baby. Complications affecting the placenta can prevent a baby from receiving oxygen, potentially leading to fatal injuries.

Placental abruption can occur when the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery. This will interrupt oxygen delivery to the baby. A provider who does not recognize the signs of placental abruption, including vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and fetal distress, or who does not respond immediately to make sure the baby is delivered safely may be responsible for the child's death.

Placenta previa, in which the placenta covers the cervix, is another issue that can affect the safety of a baby. If it is not managed correctly, it may lead to severe hemorrhaging, which could put the child's life at risk while also increasing the chances of maternal death. Placenta previa will need to be identified correctly, and an appropriate delivery plan should be used to ensure that a baby can be delivered safely. Failure to address this issue correctly can lead to serious or fatal injuries.

Negligent Neonatal Care

When babies experience distress after delivery, medical providers will need to take the proper steps, including resuscitation and attentive neonatal care in the hours and days following birth. If a neonatal care team is not prepared for a high-risk delivery, does not respond correctly to serious concerns affecting a child, or fails to recognize and treat life-threatening neonatal conditions, infant death may occur.

Issues such as neonatal sepsis, respiratory failure, hemorrhaging in the brain, severe hypoglycemia, or other conditions can be fatal if the proper treatment is not provided. A care team that allows these conditions to progress without providing the appropriate treatments may be responsible for an infant's death.

Contact Our Fairfax, VA Birth Injury Lawyer for Infant Death

For families who have lost a child during pregnancy, labor, or delivery due to medical negligence, the lawyer at Shevlin Smith, P.C. can provide guidance on the legal options that may be available. He works with families to hold negligent medical providers accountable and obtain compensation that will address the losses that have occurred because of the wrongful death of a child. Contact our Fairfax birth injury wrongful death attorney at 703-591-0067 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.