Published by Arfaa Law Group
If you suspect that your newborn’s death was a result of a medical professional’s error, carelessness, or wrongdoing, you need to reach out to a seasoned Baltimore wrongful death attorney without delay. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to helping our clients pursue the compensation they need to move on with their lives.
According to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs, American babies are 76 percent more likely to die before they turn a year old than babies in other rich countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Iceland. The risk of dying as a newborn in America is only slightly lower than the risk for babies in Sri Lanka and Ukraine. In addition, American children who survive infancy are 57 percent more likely to die before adulthood. When compared to 19 similar Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, the study found that U.S. babies were three times more likely to die from extreme immaturity and 2.3 times more likely to experience sudden death syndrome between 2001 and 2010.
The report found that one reason infant mortality rate is lower is due to higher poverty rates relative to other developed countries and a relatively weak social safety net. Approximately 21 percent of American children live in poverty, one of the highest rates in the developed world. In short, the poorer the children, the worse their health outcomes tend to be.
Unfortunately, in some cases, the death of a newborn is a result of medical malpractice. Under Maryland law, when medical malpractice causes a death, certain surviving family members can hold that medical professional accountable through a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death due to medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes the death by failing to use the level of care that a reasonably prudent medical professional in the same specialty would use in the same or similar circumstances.
If you can establish an infant’s wrongful death, you may be entitled to a variety of damages, including but not limited to funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses incurred prior to the death, loss of parent and child companionship, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and any other losses stemming from the death. While no amount of money can bring your child back, the compensation can help you pay for the unexpected bills that often arise after such an incident.
Wrongful death cases must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. In Maryland, a wrongful death lawsuit must be filed in civil court within three years from the date of the death. Claims filed after this three-year deadline are generally thrown out by a court without a hearing.
If you suspect that you lost your newborn due to medical malpractice, you need to contact a hardworking Baltimore wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, we strongly believe that families should not have to suffer because of someone else’s negligence, which is why we are committed to protecting the rights of Maryland clients at every step of the way. For more information, call 410-889-1850.
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