Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Newborns

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Extraordinary Team of Lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Assertively Litigate to Obtain the Greatest Results for Newborns Who Have Developed Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) After Consuming Cow Milk-Based Baby Formulas Produced by Enfamil or Similac in Buffalo, New York.

Despite several studies showing that premature babies should not be nursed with cow milk-based formulas, companies like Abbott Laboratories Inc. and Mead Johnson Nutrition have continued to market their products to doctors, nurses, and parents alike. After being fed Similac or Enfamil, infants face a significantly higher risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Necrotizing enterocolitis is a dangerous and potentially fatal gastrointestinal problem that predominantly impacts premature babies. Research indicating a strong connection between bovine formulas and NEC was first published in 1990. The data revealed that formula-nursed babies were 10 times more likely to develop the condition. Although the exact cause of necrotizing enterocolitis is unclear, research has demonstrated that cow milk formulas cause babies’ intestines to produce excessive bacteria and become inflamed, which can lead to NEC.

Necrotizing enterocolitis is notorious for severely damaging babies’ intestines. The intestine tissues can become badly scarred, narrowed, or completely blocked. Eventually, this causes the formation of a hole in the intestinal wall and the tissues to die. Toxic bodily wastes can leak through the perforation into the stomach, resulting in potentially fatal infections. Unfortunately, the damages may lead to permanent digestive problems and affect the baby for the rest of their life. Suppose your infant has suffered serious harm after being fed Similac or Enfamil; you may not even know where to begin. No one should be forced to stomach the physical, emotional, or developmental damages caused by irresponsible baby formula manufacturers. Filing a claim can secure critical compensation to pay for your child’s future medical treatment as well as provide a sense of justice by holding the manufacturers of Similac and Enfamil responsible for their intolerable conduct. Parents owe it to their children to consult with a highly experienced NEC baby formula attorney.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. has helped thousands of victims and their families throughout New York State by providing the best possible personal injury service. Jed Dietrich, Esq. has successfully obtained more than $175 million in judgments and settlements to compensate his clients. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s top rated team never wants parents to fear not having enough money for their children’s hospital bills. Jed Dietrich, Esq.’s greatest reward is listening to clients boost about the exceptional representation that the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. provided them. We would be honored to talk about the specifics of your child’s baby formula NEC claim as soon as possible. Please call our battle-tested team now for your complimentary, no-obligation consultation and case assessment. We are available twenty-four-seven by dialing (716) 839-3939 or by completing our online consultation form.

In infants with symptoms, such as green vomit, hypotension, bradycardia, or lethargy, doctors can diagnose necrotizing enterocolitis through irregular gas patterns on X-rays. NEC causes a particular streaky or bubbly manifestation of gas in the intestine walls. After being diagnosed, it is crucial for the infant’s intestines to rest and heal. The first step in treating necrotizing enterocolitis is to stop all oral and tube nursing. The baby must get all fluids and nutrients from intravenous (IV) therapy. Additionally, infants suffering from NEC may also need the following treatments:

1. Antibiotics: A narrow spectrum of antibiotics may be administered to help prevent or fight severe bacterial infections. Most commonly, gentamicin, ampicillin, or metronidazole are prescribed by doctors for NEC.
2. Nasogastric Tube: A long, thin tube may be inserted through the nose or sometimes the mouth. The nasogastric or orogastric drainage tube goes all the way into the baby’s stomach to suck out gas and fluids from the intestine.
3. Ostomy Procedures: Roughly 1 in 4 infants require surgery to get rid of dead intestinal tissue and repair perforations. One of the most prevalent surgeries is called an ostomy procedure, which involves making a small hole in the child’s stomach and connecting the large intestine to the stoma. This allows waste to exit the body through the abdomen hole and collect into a pouch outside the body. Ostomy procedures help inflamed or damaged sections of the digestive system heal by protecting the child’s abdominal cavity.
4. Close Monitoring: Regular examinations and abdominal X-rays will be required until the baby’s condition improves. The baby’s feces will also be monitored for blood and the infant’s belly size routinely inspected. If the baby’s stomach is too swollen and breathing is affected, a ventilator may be needed.

After recovering, an infant can be back on regular feedings within a week or two. Nursing with breast milk is highly recommended because it can be easily digested, boosts an infant’s immunity, and supports the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a severe condition that could have permanent consequences on your infant’s health. Most babies that develop NEC are forced to spend extensive time in neonatal intensive care units. Unfortunately, around 30 percent of all premature babies who suffer from this gastrointestinal condition tragically die. Although nothing can eliminate your infant’s pain or the suffering caused by NEC, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible baby formula producer. Wrongful death lawsuits have been designed to provide surviving loved ones with monetary compensation that can help ease their mental anguish. Establishing damages in a wrongful death case involving an infant can be an extremely complicated undertaking that typically requires the assistance of forensic economists and other expert witnesses. The baby’s parents or legal guardians may be able to recover compensation for the following:

1. All hospital and medical bills incurred due to your baby’s treatment for NEC;
2. Lost wages resulting from the parents missing work to take care of their baby;
3. Loss of love, affection, and companionship;
4. Loss of benefits the decedent infant would have been entitled to in an inheritance or trust;
5. The infant’s pain and suffering caused by his or her inflammation, perforation of the intestinal wall, and other symptoms;
6. Loss of future earnings potential or the amount the deceased baby would have earned throughout his or her lifespan;
7. All funeral and other associated burial costs; and
8. If our veteran lawyers can show that the manufacturers of Similac or Enfamil knew their products caused necrotizing enterocolitis but recklessly chose to ignore the risks, punitive damages may also be available.

Most importantly, filing a wrongful death lawsuit can provide you and your family with a sense of justice. Your case will force the responsible manufacturer to accept responsibility for carelessly marketing cow milk-based formulas to premature babies. If your infant developed necrotizing enterocolitis after being fed Similac or Enfamil, please contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s seasoned team immediately. Honored with a Better Business Bureau A+ Rating, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will aggressively litigate to demand the best result for your baby’s NEC-related injury. Call our highly knowledgeable lawyers today for your free case evaluation and consultation. We are available 24/7 by calling (716) 839-3939 or by filling out our online consultation form. We are the aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking Buffalo, New York personal injury attorneys who are ready to fight for the compensation that your child deserves!

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at (716) 839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!