Understanding the Risks of Severe Jaundice in Newborns
Welcoming a new baby is a joyous moment, but it also comes with concerns – especially regarding your newborn’s health. While jaundice is one of the most common conditions in newborns, with mild cases typically resolving on their own, failure to diagnose or treat severe jaundice properly can lead to devastating consequences. In the most extreme cases, mismanaged jaundice can result in kernicterus, a form of brain damage that causes lifelong neurological disabilities.
Nearly 60% of full-term newborns and 80% of preterm infants develop some level of jaundice within their first week of life. While jaundice is often treatable, failure to properly diagnose or manage severe cases can have life-altering consequences. When medical negligence plays a role, families may have the right to pursue legal action.
This guide aims to help you understand the causes, warning signs, and risks of severe jaundice in newborns, along with the legal options available if a missed or delayed diagnosis, or improper treatment, leads to serious injury.
Understanding Severe Jaundice: Causes and Symptoms
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a yellow pigment released during the normal breakdown of red blood cells, builds up in a newborn’s bloodstream. Because a newborn's liver is still maturing, it may not yet be able to process and remove bilirubin effectively, which can lead to a temporary increase in levels.
Common Causes of Severe Jaundice
- Premature birth (before 37 weeks)
- Blood type incompatibility between mother and baby (Rh or ABO incompatibility)
- Birth trauma (excessive bruising leads to increased bilirubin)
- Infections or genetic disorders impacting bilirubin metabolism
- Ineffective feeding, leading to slower bilirubin elimination
Signs & Symptoms of Severe Jaundice
While mild jaundice is expected in many newborns, parents should seek immediate medical attention if they notice:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes that spreads beyond the face
- Lethargy or difficulty waking the baby for feedings
- High-pitched crying or irritability
- Poor feeding or weak sucking reflex
- Stiff or floppy body movements
When Jaundice Becomes a Legal Issue: Medical Negligence
Jaundice is common in newborns, but when medical mistakes happen, the consequences can be severe. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to follow standard protocols to monitor and treat jaundice properly. When they fail to diagnose, track, or treat severe jaundice in a timely and appropriate manner, it can lead to serious harm, and may constitute medical negligence.
Examples of Medical Negligence in Jaundice Cases
- Failure to perform timely bilirubin screening in high-risk newborns
- Discharging a baby too early without proper jaundice monitoring
- Ignoring worsening symptoms and failing to order urgent treatment
- Delaying phototherapy or exchange transfusion
- Failing to educate parents on when to seek emergency care
If a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider’s negligence causes kernicterus or another birth injury, you may be eligible to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
Legal Rights of Parents: How Pennsylvania Law Protects Families
In Pennsylvania, if your newborn suffers a birth injury due to medical negligence, you have the right to take legal action. These laws exist to hold healthcare providers accountable and help families like yours secure compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care, and other related damages.
Key Legal Considerations
- Statute of Limitations: In Pennsylvania, medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within two years of discovering the injury. In birth injury cases, certain exceptions may extend this timeframe, allowing families more time to seek justice.
- Burden of Proof: If you pursue a severe jaundice malpractice claim, you will need to show that medical negligence directly caused your baby’s injury. Proving this can be challenging, but a skilled birth injury attorney can help gather the necessary evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.
- Compensation: You may be entitled to financial support to help cover medical expenses, ongoing therapy, lost future earnings, and the physical and emotional challenges that come with your baby’s condition.
If your infant has suffered a birth injury, an experienced Philadelphia birth injury attorney can review your case, collect medical records, and consult with experts to determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Severe Jaundice and Birth Injuries
1. What are the first signs of severe jaundice in newborns?
Severe jaundice often begins with a deep yellowing of the skin and eyes, but parents should also watch for signs such as difficulty waking for feedings, high-pitched crying, or unusual body stiffness or limpness. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately to prevent complications.
2. How do I know if my baby’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence?
Medical negligence occurs when healthcare providers fail to follow the accepted standard of care. If doctors did not properly monitor bilirubin levels, delayed treatment, discharged your baby too soon, or ignored worsening symptoms, their actions – or inaction – may have led to preventable harm. A skilled birth injury attorney can review your case and consult medical experts to determine if negligence played a role.
3. What compensation can families receive for kernicterus-related injuries?
Compensation in a birth injury claim may cover medical expenses, specialized therapies, assistive devices, lost future earnings, and pain and suffering. Because kernicterus can cause lifelong disabilities, financial recovery may also include costs for long-term care and special education services. An experienced attorney can help assess the full scope of damages and fight for the support your child needs.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Pursuing a medical malpractice claim for a birth injury can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Anapol Weiss's trusted Philadelphia birth injury lawyers, led by Kila Baldwin, have the experience and resources to help families seek justice when medical negligence leads to severe jaundice complications.
How Anapol Weiss Can Help
- Comprehensive Case Evaluation: Our team will carefully review medical records and collaborate with top medical experts to assess your case.
- Strategic Legal Advocacy: We work to identify negligence and establish the link between improper medical care and your baby’s injury.
- Skilled Negotiation & Litigation: Whether negotiating a fair settlement or representing your family in court, we are committed to securing the justice and compensation you're seeking.
Contact Anapol Weiss – Trusted Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyers Fighting for Families Affected by Severe Jaundice Malpractice
As a parent, you trust medical professionals to provide the best possible care for your newborn. When that trust is broken due to negligence, the consequences can be life-changing. If your baby suffered complications because a doctor failed to recognize or respond to severe jaundice in a timely manner, you may be eligible to pursue a birth injury claim.
At Anapol Weiss, we are committed to helping families across Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, and throughout Pennsylvania. If your baby has suffered brain damage or cerebral palsy due to severe jaundice, you deserve a legal team with the experience and dedication to fight for justice.
With decades of experience in birth injury law, our attorneys provide compassionate, results-driven representation to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable and pursue the financial compensation your child may need for medical treatment, specialized therapy, and lifelong care. We offer free consultations so you can understand your legal options without any financial risk.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you seek justice and secure the support your child needs for a healthier, brighter future.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and legal outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances. If you or your child has suffered an injury due to medical negligence, consult with a qualified medical malpractice attorney to discuss your legal rights and options.