Kernicterus Medical Negligence Claims

Kernicterus is a preventable condition, usually caused by medical negligence involving irreparable damage to the brain as a result of failure to treat jaundice in a newborn child. The brain damage resulting from this disorder causes athetoid cerebral palsy of varying degrees of severity. Most newborn children suffer from jaundice to some degree however kernicterus only results in the case of severe jaundice that is not identified and is not adequately treated.

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Treatment Options

The condition arises as a result of unusually high levels a naturally occurring substance called bilirubin which is a breakdown product of blood that manifests itself as jaundice. Treatment of mild jaundice in a newborn infant is a relatively simple matter and placing the child in direct sunlight for a time will often be sufficient to alleviate the symptoms although more severe case are treated with artificial light from a blue lamp. The most serious cases may require an exchange of blood to urgently remove the damaging toxins.

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Medical Negligence

Healthcare professionals involved in postnatal care should be aware of the damage caused by untreated jaundice in a newborn infant and should ensure that the child is properly examined on a regular basis. Failure to do so is of itself medical negligence which is actionable by a solicitor in a court of law. Even if the symptoms do occur, it is not too late to effect emergency treatment that will stop the condition progressing to a worse situation. Failure to identify this condition or failure to treat properly or in a timely manner may be classed as kernicterus medical negligence entitling the child to receive compensation for the injury which can have very serious consequences.

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Kernicterus & Jaundice

There are several areas for concern in regards to a child who may be suffering from jaundice. Mistakes made by physicians that may be considered as kernicterus medical negligence include :-

• repeating contentious laboratory results and delaying treatment
• interrupting treatment for further diagnostic testing
• failure to examine for signs of jaundice or kernicterus
• failing to properly interpret laboratory results
• failure to understand high bilirubin risk thereby delaying treatment
• not understanding varying risk associated with hourly time post birth

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Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Children who suffer from kernicterus typically exhibit the symptoms of athetoid cerebral palsy which involves specific movement disorders, hearing loss and impaired eye movement. Observed movement disorders in conjunction with low muscle tone often consist of involuntary, purposeless motion especially in the face, arms and trunk which interfere with speaking, feeding, reaching, grasping and other skills requiring coordinated movement. These impaired movement symptoms increase during periods of stress and disappear during sleep.

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Specialist Solicitors

This condition is totally preventable and most cases will result in a successful kernicterus medical negligence compensation claim. If you would like free advice without further obligation just complete the contact form and a specialist clinical negligence solicitor will phone you with information on how to preserve your child’s legal rights to claim an award of damages.