You expect your child’s birth to be the happiest day of your life. While you may not think about the possibility of your child being sick, it is estimated that one in every five babies is born with long-term health problems. If your newborn has a serious illness, they may be sent to the pediatric intensive care unit, or PICU.
PICU staff includes pediatric specialists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals responsible for monitoring your baby’s vitals and providing life-intensive treatment. Unfortunately, being in the PICU does not necessarily guarantee that your child will receive the highest level of care. Suppose your baby suffered complications or died because of PICU staff failing to diagnose an infection. In that case, the medical malpractice attorneys at Marzella & Associates in Harrisburg, PA, are here to help.
Common PICU Infections
If a newborn is seriously ill or has a complex medical condition, they will be sent to the PICU. The PICU can provide a higher level of care than a general pediatric ward, but given the number of patients and invasive procedures, infants are more prone to infections.
Common infections in the PICU include:
- Central-line associated bloodstream infection: An infection that occurs because a central line is inserted into a large vein.
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia: A lung infection in newborns requiring a mechanical respirator to breathe.
- Urinary tract infections: An infection caused by bacteria invading the urinary tract.
- Myocarditis: A condition that causes an inflammation of the heart’s muscular walls, impeding heart function.
- Bronchiolitis: Inflammation of the small airways of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.
Diagnostic Errors in the PICU
Given the number of critically ill newborns and lack of staff, it is not uncommon for delays in diagnoses or for infections to go undiagnosed in the PICU. Recent research has shown that in a sample study of children who died in the PICU, a primary diagnosis was missed in 20% of cases.
The prevalence of diagnostic errors should be a cause for alarm. PICU doctors, nurses, and support staff are on the front lines tending to each child’s specialized needs, with doctors ordering medications and nurses administering proper dosages and continuously monitoring vitals. Your child’s life rests in the hands of these medical professionals, so any error on their part can produce detrimental and potentially fatal consequences.
Advocacy in the Wake of Devastation
Suppose your child suffered an infection that went undiagnosed by a member of the hospital PICU staff. In that case, our medical malpractice lawyers want to assist you in recovering adequate compensation for your child’s medical bills and your emotional suffering. At Marzella & Associates, we have seen the distress of a sick child on a family. If your newborn’s condition worsened due to spending time in the PICU, there is a high likelihood that it was a medical error.
Our legal team will gather your child’s medical records to determine how and when the error occurred. Gathering this evidence will allow you to recoup medical bills, lost wages, and other losses you have sustained.
Consult Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Today
A child who becomes sick due to a provider’s negligence can have a profound financial and emotional impact on an entire family. Our medical malpractice lawyers in Harrisburg, PA, understand the agony that occurs when a baby is seriously ill. If your newborn required PICU care and subsequently experienced an infection, please speak with our Harrisburg medical malpractice attorneys.
Our legal team has helped countless parents recover their losses to move forward following a child falling seriously ill. To learn how we can be of assistance, contact us online or give us a call to arrange your free consultation.