Kernicterus From Medical Malpractice

If Your Baby Has Injuries Due to Kernicterus, it Could be From Medical Malpractice

While everyone hopes to have a healthy labor and delivery, ending in taking their healthy baby home with them, it is not always the case. Birth injuries sadly happen every day. A birth injury is an injury that occurs shortly before, during, or after labor and delivery. Some birth injuries are unpreventable, but many birth injuries are preventable. One type of birth injury that is almost always preventable is kernicterus. Kernicterus is a rare birth injury that can cause devastating and catastrophic injury to a newborn, including wrongful death.  It is generally due to complete negligence, and most medical providers are aware of appropriate testing and monitoring to prevent kernicterus from occurring.

If your loved one was diagnosed with kernicterus, your loved one has likely been the victim of some form of medical malpractice.  This is because kernicterus should not occur, and when it does, it is due to neglect and delay.  Victims who suffer these types of serious injuries have rights under the law.  Learn how you can get help by calling an experienced kernicterus lawyer like one of ours here at Medical Malpractice Universe.

What is Kernicterus?

Kernicterus occurs as a result of untreated jaundice. When the bilirubin gets too high, it can lead to the bilirubin seeping into the brain tissue. Jaundice occurs when there is an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is relatively common at birth, with approximately 60% of babies having some degree of jaundice.

All babies are checked for jaundice before discharge from the hospital. If the bilirubin is mildly elevated, repeat bilirubin should occur hours later. If it is significantly elevated, a doctor may choose to do phototherapy. If an elevated bilirubin level occurs, but the doctor or other healthcare provider does not act on it and instead sends the baby home, this can lead to kernicterus happening.

Kernicterus is a severe birth injury, causing permanent brain damage or even death if not treated promptly.  The signs of kernicterus are often visibly apparent due to the yellowing of the skin and the eyes.  If that was not clear enough, hospitals have mandated checking for bilirubin levels.  Doctors who neglect these signs can be negligent.

What are Symptoms of Kernicterus?

While jaundice should never progress to kernicterus, specific symptoms can indicate that a baby has jaundice. Signs and symptoms of kernicterus include the following:

• Yellow or orange skin
• Yellowing of the whites of the eyes
• Decreased number of wet diapers
• Is not able to eat well
• Lethargic or difficult to wake
• Arching of the body
• Inconsolable, high pitched cry
• Abnormal eye movements
• Limp, floppy body

What are the Risk Factors for Jaundice?

Certain risk factors place a baby at risk for jaundice. Risk factors for jaundice include the following:

• Preterm babies – preterm refers to babies born before 37 weeks
• Babies who struggle to eat
• Bruising from birth
• Babies who have darker skin color
• Mediterranean descent
• East Asian descent
• Women who are Rh negative or have an O blood type are more likely to have a baby who could develop jaundice
• Sibling with jaundice – If a newborn has a sibling who developed jaundice at birth, they are more at risk for developing jaundice
• Liver or kidney problems in the family or with the mother
• Low birth weight, and
• Other related factors.

What is the Treatment for Kernicterus?

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, “no baby should develop brain damage from untreated jaundice.” However, once a baby has developed kernicterus, they need immediate treatment. Treatment for kernicterus usually includes phototherapy or a “bili blanket” which helps to bring down the bilirubin levels. Parents are also encouraged to increase hydration, and in some cases, a blood exchange transfusion may be recommended.

Was Your Children Diagnosed with Kernicterus?  Call Us

If your newborn was diagnosed with kernicterus, it means the tell-tale signs of jaundice were missed.  Almost all cases of kernicterus are due to medical negligence.  It also means your child unnecessarily suffered from a healthcare provider’s mistakes.  Learn how one of our experienced kernicterus lawyers can help you by contacting one here at Medical Malpractice Universe.