Holoprosencephaly Injury Attorneys in Cleveland
About Holoprosencephaly Injuries
Holoprosencephaly is a congenital disorder where the brain does not properly divide into two hemispheres. In most cases, a baby with this condition dies before birth. For children who survive, the failure of the brain to properly divide causes defects in the development of the skull, face, and brain function.
There are several different classifications, including:
- Alobar holoprosencephaly: the most severe type, the brain fails to divide and the child suffers from severe facial abnormalities, including a lack of a nose and a single eye
- Semilobar holoprosencephaly: the hemisphere of the brain divides partially
- Lobar holoprosencephaly: the least severe form and the child’s brain may function nearly normally
Most children born with holoprosencephaly have at least some degree of developmental delay and usually mental retardation. These deficits can be quite profound. They are also susceptible to seizures and feeding difficulties.
Our firm can help you fight for the full justice you and your child deserve. Contact the Ohio holoprosencephaly injury lawyers at The Becker Law Firm for a free consultation.
Causes of Holoprosencephaly
The causes of holoprosencephaly are not known with any degree of certainty. Some believe that there may be a genetic component, but non-genetic risk factors include gestational diabetes, first trimester bleeding, drug and alcohol use, and prior miscarriage.
Holoprosencephaly Malpractice
Though holoprosencephaly cannot be prevented at this time, it is detectable early on with prenatal ultrasounds. It can be seen as early as nine to 14 weeks, in some cases. If the ultrasound is inconclusive, a fetal MRI can be performed.
If a sonographer (radiologist) or obstetrician does not perform proper testing to exclude holoprosencephaly, or if they fail to accurately report the results of those tests to the parent, they may be liable in a type of medical malpractice case. A child may have a claim called wrongful life, and the parent may have a claim called wrongful birth. Not all states recognize these claims.
Essentially, these claims argue that the parent would have legally terminated the pregnancy if she had known about the genetic injury. Because she did not have that opportunity, one of the elements of damages is for the cost of medical and other care over and above what would have been required for a child without the injury.
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$15.9 Million Birth Injury
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$13.5 Million Birth Injury
Becker Law Firm attorneys Michael Becker and David Skall obtained a jury verdict for $13.5 million in Akron, Ohio. The case involved a now 16- year-old boy who suffered a brain injury at the time of birth (specifically a watershed injury). The doctor held liable for causing the boy’s injury is Laura Fortner, M.D., previously of Atrium OB/GYN, Inc.
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$8.7 Million Birth Trauma
Failure to Appropriately Manage Preeclampsia Resulting in Brain Damage
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$4.5 Million Birth Injury
Failure to Carefully Ligate Umbilical Cord, Resulting In Severing Child’s Great Toe, Major Fluctuation In Child’s Blood Pressure And Subsequent Brain Damage (Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Delays)
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$4.25 Million Birth Injury
Failure of Obsterical Caregivers to Recognize Maternal Hemorrhage Resulting in Brain Damage
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"Thank you for being our champions."
Your unwavering dedication and expert guidance have truly been a lifesaver. Your sharp legal mind and compassionate heart have made all the difference. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being there for us every step of the way. We are forever grateful Words cannot express our gratitude for everything you have done for us. Your outstanding professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to justice have been nothing short of remarkable. You have given us back our confidence and hope during a difficult time. Thank you for being our champions. Thank you so much.
- The C. Family -
"Michael Becker helped us secure our daughter’s future needs. We will always be grateful for the impact he has had on our family."We were greeted with professionalism, expertise, compassion, respect, and a desire to provide the best quality of life for our daughter. She was always the top priority. Mr. Becker represented our daughter and family as if it was his own. His staff was equ- Kris Harmon, mother of Perri
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"Mike represented us as if he was fighting for his own family member. I knew that my son was getting the best representation in Northeast Ohio."It was an honor having such an experienced lawyer handle my son's cerebral palsy case. He represented us as if he was fighting for his own family member. Everyone at the firm made us feel comfortable about our case. I knew that my son was getting the best representation in Northeast Ohio. The Becker Law Firm is dedicated to bringing justice to their clients. I've already referred families that I know!- Knyesha Washington
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"David worked our case with professionalism and patience in an amazing way that ultimately led to a positive outcome."Right from the very beginning of our case, David Skall and his assistant Jean Witt were both extremely kind and compassionate to help us put closure on a wrongful death case involving my father at a care facility. They were quick to answer any questions that we had and they made sure we were kept in the loop of this entire process. even though we were in the middle of a pandemic, David and his team were able to adapt their technology and make it all work out for our benefit. I would strongly recommend them to anyone in need of legal help.- John Z.
Meet Our Attorneys
More than A Century of Combined Experience Relentlessly Pursuing Justice
Contact Us to Discuss Your Legal Options
Children with holoprosencephaly often require 24-hour nursing care and extensive medical treatment. These injuries can be expensive and devastating to families. If your child was born with holoprosencephaly, contact our Ohio birth injury lawyers to determine whether you have a claim for the cost of extraordinary medical expenses or pain and suffering.
We can be reached online via our contact form or by phone at (440) 252-4399.
