Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers / Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of Prematurity

Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys

If you notice that your baby can not see well or is blind, you might be worried about what may have caused it. Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by substandard health care performed by the hospital. Contact our experienced Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Morgenstern & Herd to hold the negligent parties accountable.

Retinopathy of PrematurityAs a parent of a baby with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), you may have many unanswered questions, including whether the blindness could have been prevented.  In some cases, blindness from ROP is avoidable with proper screening and treatment—in these situations, the healthcare provider can be held liable for medical negligence.

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ROP can have lifelong consequences.  If your baby has been diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity, the Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Morgenstern & Herd, PLLC can inform you of your rights and help to determine if malpractice has played a role in the development of your baby’s ROP.  You may be entitled to seek compensation.

Malpractice contributes to ROP may include the following:

  • Exposing newborns to toxins
  • Improper use of oxygen therapy following birth
  • Failing to provide timely, regular eye exams to high-risk infants
  • Failing to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity when symptoms of this condition are clearly present
  • Failing to promptly or adequately treat retinopathy of prematurity

Frequently Asked Questions About Retinopathy of Prematurity

What is ROP?
  • Some premature babies can develop abnormal blood vessels in the retina, causing the retina to detach and possibly leading to blindness. ROP is sometimes self-corrective, but other cases call for surgery. If a physician catches ROP soon after birth, an ophthalmologist can use a laser to prevent the abnormal blood vessels from growing, scarring, contracting, and detaching the retina.
Is There Treatment for ROP?
  • In some cases, blindness from ROP is avoidable with proper screening and treatment. If your newborn becomes blind because of ROP, the healthcare provider can be liable. It will be necessary for you to consult with an expert Pediatric Ophthalmologist.
What are Birth Injuries?
  • A birth injury may occur when a physician or hospital nurse provides substandard care during the pregnancy or the birthing process.  Devastating effects like paralysis, brain damage, and even death may happen to the mother and/or child.  A birth injury may also be the result of the failure of the physician or hospital nurse to maintain cleanliness, communicate a patient’s condition to physicians, monitor and assess conditions, and intervene in a timely fashion.  In most malpractice cases you have two years from the time you knew or ought to have known that the instance of malpractice occurred to file a claim. With a young child that statutory period is extended to the eighth birthday, as children may not be able to understand or express that there is something wrong with them.
What is Breach of Duty?
  • Doctors owe you the responsibility of providing you care, that meets standards of your medical condition.  When these standards are not met, it is a Breach of Duty.
What is the Causation Aspect of a Case?
  • You must not only have substandard care but that substandard care in itself doesn’t cause damages.  Causation means that the substandard care, or the mistake, results in damages both physical and emotional to you as a victim of medical malpractice.
Will the Doctor Lose Their License if They are Found Guilty of Malpractice?
  • Florida Law states that a medical provider can lose their license after three strikes.  Your physician will be reported to the Department of Health at the time of your complaint.  This individual will be noted for documentation error, and will unlikely lost their license for one error.
Can Our Family Require a Doctor to Apologize?
  • A lawsuit cannot help you get an apology from the doctor.  The jury can give you monetary compensation for a medical error.  An apology cannot be forced in a lawsuit.

Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys Protecting Your Family

If you or a loved one has been injured through negligence by a healthcare provider, contact the Tampa Medical Malpractice Attorneys Morgenstern & Herd, PLLC in Florida today to arrange a free initial consultation and preliminary case review.  Our attorneys handle all personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingent fee basis.

Download Our Free Medical Malpractice Guide Attorney Betsey Herd is a partner with Morgenstern & Herd, PLLC  and has achieved the highest rating of 10 on Avvo.