Neonatal Jaundice – Kernicterus Birth Injury

Jaundice is often viewed as a common, non-serious development in newborn babies, but did you know that severe jaundice if left untreated can lead to brain injury?

Jaundice happens when a baby’s liver cannot yet remove bilirubin from the breakdown of red blood cells in the baby’s bloodstream. Usually this happens within the first days of a baby’s life. Bilirubin is normal in the bloodstream, but a properly functioning liver can remove it. When a baby’s liver can’t do this yet, the bilirubin builds up and spreads to the baby’s nervous system.

Irreversible Kernicterus can result from untreated jaundice, with permanent damage to the baby’s brain or spinal cord potentially causing cerebral palsy, hearing loss, arrested development, or other serious conditions.

Kernicterus is highly preventable. When hospital staff notices that a baby’s eyes and skin are yellowing and are proactive in treating that jaundice, further damage can be averted. However, if lethargy, vomiting, nausea, unusual eye movements, limpness or other symptoms are allowed to develop it may progress to seizures and permanent damage.

Once Kernicterus has developed, the resulting conditions may require medical treatment and specialized care for the rest of the child’s life, at a great emotional and financial cost to the family.

How Can A Lawyer Help?
If your baby was diagnosed with Kernicterus, simply fill out the form on this page to have an experienced medical malpractice attorney determine whether you have a case.

At Siri & Glimstad, there is never any cost upfront to you for our representation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case for free to see if you have a claim. We get paid only if we win for you!