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A neonatal stroke happens when blood flow to part of a newborn's brain is cut off, or when bleeding damages brain tissue within the first 28 days of life. The neurological consequences can be lasting, and in some cases, the stroke may trace back to complications during labor and delivery.
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary represents families in Miami and across Florida in serious birth injury cases where a newborn's stroke was connected to preventable failures in the delivery room.
Case EvaluationResearch has consistently found associations between neonatal stroke and conditions that impair oxygen delivery or blood circulation to the fetus during labor and delivery. Studies examining neonatal stroke cases have identified higher rates of the following in affected deliveries:
Additional recognized risk factors include placental abnormalities, maternal clotting disorders, congenital heart disease, and infection or inflammation. When these conditions are present and medical staff fail to recognize signs of compromised blood flow or respond appropriately, the window in which intervention could prevent permanent brain damage can close without action being taken.
Seizures are the most common presenting symptom of neonatal stroke, appearing in approximately 70% to 90% of newborns with arterial ischemic stroke during the first days of life. Other signs that may indicate a stroke occurred include:
MRI is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Because some effects of neonatal stroke may not become fully apparent until a child reaches school age, families who notice developmental or neurological concerns in the months and years following birth should not assume those concerns are unrelated to what happened during delivery.
Families pursuing a birth injury or medical malpractice claim in Florida related to neonatal stroke may be entitled to compensation for:
A wrongful death claim, in cases where a neonatal stroke results in the death of a newborn, may allow the family to recover for funeral expenses, medical costs incurred prior to death, and loss of companionship.
Advances in MRI imaging, neonatal neurology, and placental pathology have made it increasingly possible to identify when a stroke occurred, what caused it, and whether labor management decisions contributed to the injury. Attorney Sean M. Cleary works with medical experts who can analyze fetal monitoring strips, placental pathology reports, and neonatal MRI scans to build a case around what the evidence shows.
Neonatal stroke cases are among the most medically complex birth injury claims, and the window for filing a malpractice claim in Florida is limited. Contact The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary today for a free case evaluation, and attorney Sean M. Cleary will review the details of your child's case.
