Portland Birth Injury Lawyers Explain Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and How it Causes Oregon Birth Injuries
There are many different types of birth injuries. Some birth injuries are caused due to the Oregon medical malpractice of healthcare providers and their negligent actions. Other birth injuries are caused due to negligent inactions or omissions, which includes the failure to act. One type of birth injury that can be caused by negligent inactions or omissions is Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, or MAS. If your newborn was diagnosed with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, MAS, or any respiratory (lung) related injury, ask our Portland birth injury lawyers to take a FREE look at your case. This is because MAS could result in serious and complicated birth injuries, disability, and permanent damage to a developing baby, including cerebral plays, HIE, and other brain injuries.
What is Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)?
As a fetus develops, it is processing food matter which is feed through the placenta. This fecal matter is stored in the intestines and can stay in the intestines until birth. It does not accumulate very much matter given that it is a nine-month storage process. Upon birth, the baby’s birth bowel movement is this matter which accumulated during development. That is called meconium, and it is not like a normal bowel passage. This bowel movement typically occurs not long after birth.
However, during difficult birth when the baby is in distress, also known as fetal distress, the baby may prematurely discharge the meconium. This means that the baby could have the meconium in the amniotic sac with the baby or in the birth canal if the sac has popped. This is dangerous, while it does happen, it is still abnormal. Discharge of meconium prior to or during the birthing process can be a sign of complications and undue stress on the baby. This is dangerous.
When the meconium is discharged too early, there is the possibility that the baby could aspirate the meconium into his or her lungs. This is very dangerous because it is a waste product that can cause a whole host of complications in the baby. MAS injuries could be due to Oregon medical malpractice.
Dangerous of MAS and Complications Due to Oregon Medical Malpractice
Generally, if meconium is expressed prematurely a fast-working and competent medical team can avoid MAS. Simple solutions are c-sections, safely using vacuum extraction tools, and other ways to quickly deliver the baby.
However, when a medical team fails to properly mitigate and handle the risks of MAS, a newborn could suffer serious personal injuries. These birth injuries could have long-lasting affects. The birth injuries are simply caused by a delay in treatment. Some of the most common birth injuries due to MAS include the following:
- Pneumonia, which can be fatal to newborns;
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn which is potentially deadly and damaging;
- HIE or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy;
- Hypoxic injuries (decreased oxygen);
- Anoxic injuries (no oxygen);
- Cerebral palsy due to hypoxic or anoxic injuries;
- Blocked airways;
- Wrongful death; and
- Many other serious injuries.
Was Your Baby Diagnosed with MAS? Ask our Portland Birth Injury Lawyers For Help
If you newborn was diagnosed with MAS or any possible complication of MAS, you may be entitled to compensation for your baby’s future medical needs. This could be very serious too. If MAS resulted in severe birth injuries such as cerebral palsy or HIE, the lifetime costs for your loved one may be well over $1 million.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
