Drooling is a normal occurrence for every newborn. This is especially true when the teething process starts for a baby. However, excessive drooling can also indicate more serious health issues for a baby. If you believe that your child was a victim of medical malpractice that resulted in excessive drooling, you should consult with an experienced Miami birth complications injury attorney.
Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA is here to provide you and your family with the legal representation needed to pursue a birth injury claim in Miami, Florida. Doctors that do not provide a mother and her child with adequate medical care should be held accountable for their actions. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676. You can also contact the firm online.
Birth Complications Related to Excessive Drooling
Drooling is natural, especially for newborns between the age of three to six months when newborns become more curious and active. The parent of a child should be familiar with the amount of drool that is typical for their newborn. As a result, a parent is typically aware when their child’s drooling becomes excessive. When this happens, a parent should consider that there are other explanations for their child’s excessive drooling.
Neurological disorders are often responsible for a newborn experiencing excessive drooling. There are a number of neurological disorders that can explain why a child is experiencing excessive drooling. For example, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL) is a degenerative disease that affects how the brain sends signals to other parts of the body, like a person’s facial muscles. There are other neurological disorders that can be responsible for birth complications related to excessive drooling.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that can also affect how the brain sends signals to the body. Specifically, cerebral palsy could affect the muscles in a newborn’s face. As a result, a child may have weak muscles in their face, which could explain why they may be unable to close their mouth or swallow, which could lead to excessive drooling.
Cerebral palsy is often caused because a child suffered brain damage before, during, or after delivery. When this happens, there is a possibility that a doctor or another medical practitioner could be liable for the child’s injuries.
It may seem extreme to suggest that excessive drooling could be a symptom that a newborn has developed cerebral palsy. While you should not assume that your child has cerebral palsy, you should seek medical attention for your child to determine the true cause of their excessive drooling.
Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy is another type of neurological disorder that affects a portion of a person’s face. Common signs and symptoms of bell’s palsy include:
- A droopy eyelid on one side of the face
- Excessive drooling that typically occurs on one side of the mouth
- Abnormally dry eyes
- Unexplained sensitivity to loud noises and other sounds
- Inability to move muscles on one side of the face
Other disorders can explain why a child experiences excessive drooling, like Parkinson’s disease or a stroke. In some cases, excessive drooling could be caused by medication that is used to treat cerebral palsy. For example, diazepam is a drug that can treat cerebral palsy but that may also carry an increased risk of excessive drooling.
To learn more about liability for birth injuries like cerebral palsy, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Miami, Florida birth injury lawyer.
Liability for Excessive Drooling Birth Complications in Miami, Florida
Indeed, some birth complications may not be the fault of any party. However, there are many cases where a medical practitioner could be responsible for a child’s injuries. When this happens, you should consider filing a malpractice lawsuit against a negligent medical practitioner.
A doctor or other health professionals that provide a mother and a newborn with medical care are expected to adhere to the common standards of medical care for their particular field. When medical care falls below these standards, a medical practitioner could be held liable for malpractice. Recognize that this does not mean that a doctor must provide a patient with impeccable medical care.
There are several ways that a doctor could be responsible for a child developing cerebral palsy. For example, if a doctor uses excessive force when utilizing birth-assisting instruments, they could easily cause an injury to the fragile head of a newborn. Under these circumstances, parents could pursue a medical malpractice claim against the doctor.
In some cases, a doctor and the hospital that employs them could be held liable for the doctor’s actions. This is possible if a doctor committed malpractice within the scope of their employment. For example, injuring a child during delivery is a negligent act that could be imputed to their employer through vicarious liability.
It is important to note that some hospitals may try to avoid liability for a birth injury by hiring doctors that operate as independent contractors. This means that a hospital can allege that a doctor was not under specific orders from the hospital, and the hospital should not be responsible for their negligence.
If you are unsure about who could be held liable for birth complications suffered by your child, you should share your concerns with an experienced Miami, Florida attorney.
Contact Our Dedicated Miami, Florida Birth Complication Lawyer for Infant Drooling Injuries
If your child developed cerebral palsy due to the negligent actions of a doctor, contact an experienced Miami, FL birth injury lawyer. Medical malpractice lawyer Prosper Shaked has acquired extensive experience litigating complex malpractice claims, and he would be proud to use this experience to represent you. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676.