In 1940 testing was done with rhesus monkeys regarding blood types. It was discovered that there were positive and negative types of blood, in addition to the regular blood types we are all familiar with. Because rhesus monkeys were used, the term Rh blood type was used. It was later seen that birth injuries occurred when a mother had the opposite Rh blood type than her developing fetus. Because maternal antibodies can cross the placenta, the opposite blood types tended to create a situation where the antibodies would destroy fetal red blood cells.
With each pregnancy the risk of this occurring increases. Rh blood type incompatibility is the leading cause of potentially fatal blood-related problems of newborns. In the United States, 1 out of 1,000 babies are born with this condition. Preventing this from occurring is a doctor’s responsibility and can greatly reduce the risk of injury.
If you or someone you know has suffered the consequences of your newborn being affected by this condition because medical personnel treating you failed to take the necessary precautions to prevent it, you need to consult with a knowledgeable Iowa medical malpractice lawyer who can assist you with filing a claim.
If your doctor failed to properly test your blood type and did not adequately treat your newborn with the correct medication to counter the effects, your antibodies will attack your baby’s blood, causing it to break down the red blood cells of the baby. This can result in the infant developing anemia.
In severe cases, this hemolytic disease can cause illness, brain damage and even death. When this devastating situation occurs, if your baby survives, your child may need long-term medical care throughout his or her lifetime. The trauma and pain from the severe injury to your child will never be able to be remedied.
With the caring and compassionate assistance of our firm, we will pursue compensation for you and your child’s losses. Although money cannot replace the good health of your child, it can help provide the best medical care your child will need. Our dedicated legal team has helped hundreds of parents who have suffered the pain of a birth injury. Allow us to help you as well. We offer our services throughout Iowa, including Mason City, Des Moines, Davenport and many other parts of the state.
Contact McGuire Law, PLC if your child has been injured due to an Rh incompatibility situation at birth.