Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Serving New Jersey and the Philadelphia metropolitan area

Weiss & Paarz P.C.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Born with Sickle Cell Disease

A group of inherited blood disorders in which red blood cells assume an abnormal, rigid sickle shape is referred to as "sickle cell disease." This abnormality results in interruption of blood flow and prevents oxygen from reaching both tissues and organs. When this occurs, painful events can occur with an associated risk of muscle, bone and organ damage.

You may have heard of sickle cell anemia, which is a common form of sickle cell disease in which there is a shortage of red blood cells circulating through the body (anemia) because sickle cells die prematurely. Sadly, sickle cell disease is considered a lifelong disease in which there is no cure at this time.

A simple blood test either before conception or during pregnancy can determine whether either parent carries a sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait don't have sickle cell disease or exhibit any signs of the disorder, but they can pass the gene for the disease to their children. When both parents have the sickle cell trait, there's a 25% chance that a child will have sickle cell disease.

If your child was born with sickle cell disease and you feel this could have been prevented by more thorough pre-natal care by your physician, you may have a valid legal claim.

If you live in the New Jersey or Philadelphia area, please contact the law office of Weiss & Paarz, P.C. today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation today.

posted by PaulaB at 9:00 AM

Friday, January 16, 2009

More Prenatal Misdiagnosis and Wrongful Birth

Most people have heard the term "wrongful death," but you may not be as familiar with the concept of a "wrongful birth." Basically, a wrongful birth is the birth of a child with a disorder or deformity that could have been detected pre-natally. What makes the birth "wrongful" is that had the parents known about this disorder or defect, the pregnancy may have been terminated.

In Tampa, Florida recently there was a wrongful birth case that resulted in an award to the parents of a staggering amount--$21 million. The jury ruled that the doctor misdiagnosed a severe birth defect in the couple's son, leading them to have a second child with similar problems. The two young sons are not able to communicate and need round-the-clock care. The boys will need this constant care for the rest of their lives. The couple claimed that their doctor failed to diagnose their first son's genetic disorder, Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome- after his birth in 2002. This disorder is the inability to correctly produce or synthesize cholesterol. Had the genetic disorder been correctly diagnosed, a test would have shown their second child was also afflicted, and the parents would have terminated the pregnancy.

If your child was born with a disorder or defect that could have been detected during pregnancy, you may have a valid legal claim.

If you live in Philadelphia or the New Jersey area, please contact the law office of Weiss & Paarz, P.C. today to schedule your confidential, no-cost consultation.

posted by PaulaB at 9:00 AM

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