Retinopathy Of Prematurity

Was Your Baby Diagnosed With Retinopathy Of Prematurity, Leading To Eye Injury Or Vision Loss? Our New York Medical Malpractice Attorneys Want To Hear About Your Child.

Premature infants—especially those born prior to 31 weeks gestation—face a variety of health risks. One of these risks is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a devastating disease caused by abnormal development of retinal blood vessels in the eyes. When not properly detected and managed by providers, ROP can cause significant damage and injury that leads to vision impairment and even blindness.

An estimated 15,000 premature infants born each year in the United States are affected to some degree by ROP. If this happened to your child, it may be a case of medical malpractice. Contact De Caro & Kaplen, LLP to learn your legal rights.

What Causes ROP Malpractice?

When a baby is born too soon, eye development may be disrupted. Once this happens, blood vessels may stop growing or grow abnormally, or scar tissue can develop and pull the retina loose from the inner surface of the eye. Physicians and hospitals have a duty to carefully monitor every premature infant for the development of ROP. This involves:

• Properly controlling and tapering oxygen used to fuel the development of the abnormal vessels
• Performing eye surgery promptly in order to prevent ROP from worsening
• Monitoring the development of blood vessels in the eyes and performing rapid surgical intervention at the first signs of ROP

Early identification and treatment can dramatically improve the outlook for ROP infants and prevent the tragic loss of sight. Doctors should have the training to timely diagnose ROP and create an appropriate plan of treatment. When they fail to do so, it may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and physician.

Trust Our Experienced Attorneys to Handle Your Case

Choosing a malpractice attorney is a difficult task, especially when you’re dealing with the heartache of having an infant with special medical needs. The first step is to learn a few basic facts about the firms you’re considering. Here are some questions parents often ask De Caro & Kaplen, LLP about our services:

• Are you experienced in medical malpractice cases? Shana De Caro and Michael Kaplen—our firm’s partners as well as award-winning attorneys—have been in the field of medical malpractice for more than 40 years. They have a unique combination of medical and legal knowledge that allows them to build strong and convincing cases of provider negligence.
• Does your firm have a track record of winning cases? De Caro & Kaplen, LLP has a long history of winning substantial, multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. We know how to demonstrate the full extent of your child’s retinopathy of prematurity injuries as well as the emotional and financial losses you’ve endured. This allows us to maximize the amount of any compensation received.
• Will my case get lost in the shuffle at your firm? Our firm is very focused on providing exceptional service to every client. In fact, we only take on a certain number of cases each year to make sure we can give each case the time, attention, and resources it requires.

Did Medical Neglect Cause Irreparable Harm to Your Baby?

At De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, we have no tolerance for medical professionals whose careless behavior results in harm to a child—especially an infant who’s just come into this world. When a physician is directly responsible for eye injuries in a premature baby, they should be held accountable. Our New York lawyers can assist you and your child if you suspect that his or her eye injuries or blindness were caused by medical or hospital neglect.

It Costs Nothing to Secure Our Legal Services

Our experienced attorneys will represent you and your child at absolutely no out-of-pocket cost to you. You are only obligated to pay legal fees if we obtain a settlement or recovery on your behalf. There’s nothing standing in your way—contact our firm today.