Rh Incompatibility Malpractice

One of the most frustrating aspects of Rh incompatibility is that it can easily be prevented with proper diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Sometimes, it is as easy as a nurse or doctor ordering a blood test when he or she believes a woman is at risk for Rh incompatibility. However, medical professionals can and sometimes do make mistakes, which could end up depriving you and your child of a normal life.

Many parents wonder what medical staff could have done differently to prevent their baby from being injured. Attorneys at Stern Law, PLLC can investigate your claim and take legal action against any negligent parties. Please call (800) 462-5772 for a free evaluation.

Negligence in Rh incompatibility cases

Following are the primary ways in which medical professionals make mistakes with regard to this highly preventable condition:

• Failing to conduct a blood test early on in a woman’s pregnancy – Blood tests determine whether there is a risk of Rh incompatibility.
• Failing to treat a child in utero – If your child shows signs of the complications associated with the condition, he or she should be treated.
• Failing to treat a child immediately at the onset of jaundice – Specifically, an untreated case of jaundice can have debilitating neurological and physical consequences. Sometimes doctors wait too long to choose an appropriate treatment or fail to realize the severity of a child’s case.
• Failure to initiate bilirubin level testing – Through conducting the above mentioned tests, a doctor or medical professional can easily determine whether a child is suffering from excess bilirubin levels in his or her system. Failure to act immediately and conduct the necessary tests can leave a child with debilitating, yet otherwise preventable injuries.
• Failure to examine a child for jaundice or kernicterus – As soon as child begins to exhibit the signs and symptoms of jaundice or acute kernicterus, medical intervention must begin immediately. This issue is especially common in children who have darker skin, where a yellowing or change in skin tone is not as readily noticeable as in newborns with lighter shades of skin. In other words, it is easier, yet still inexcusable, for doctors to miss a case of jaundice in these circumstances.
• Failure to appreciate bilirubin level test results – Bilirubin levels depend upon several factors, including the age of the child. Specifically, a one day old child may have normal bilirubin levels and on day two, could have a dangerously high blood reading. Doctors should always retest a child suspected of experiencing jaundice in order to ensure quick, accurate and appropriate treatment.
• Interruption in phototherapy – Sometimes doctors will remove a child from under the lights in order to conduct various tests or to determine the risk of blood exchange transfusion. Consistently interrupting this type of therapy can slow the progression of symptom improvement and may even lead to a worsening of the condition. A doctor should keep a child under the lights as much as possible until the child demonstrates that his or her system has fully recovered.

If your child was harmed due to blood incompatibility, Stern Law, PLLC can pursue compensation to help offset the cost of injuries. Please call (800) 462-5772 to speak with an attorney for free.