Sample Case Descriptions
A term infant girl was born by emergency cesarean section with alleged delay in her delivery. APGAR scores were 1 at 1 minute and 3 at 5 minutes. She was initially diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and respiratory failure. Within hours of being born she was noted to have seizures. MRI imaging of the brain showed signs of acute injury to the basal ganglia region. She was ultimately diagnosed with quadriparetic cerebral palsy. I was asked to provide my opinion as to the cause of the child’s hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and discuss the extent of her injury.
17 year old girl presented to the emergency room with a history of acute onset decreased mental status and trouble speaking. She was initially diagnosed as having a psychiatric illness and psychiatry was consulted. She had normal labs and a normal CT scan of the brain at admission. She was observed over several hours while awaiting transfer to a psychiatric hospital. Eight hours after presenting to the ER she was noted to have right face, arm and leg weakness. She was sent back for further neuroimaging and was found to have had a middle cerebral artery stroke. I was asked to provide my opinion as to the cause of the stroke and the likelihood of any treatment being effective in reducing the damages this stroke caused.
A term infant male was born to an obese, diabetic mother. Shoulder dystocia was diagnosed during the delivery. The initial examination of the child after being born showed weakness of the entire arm with normal finger movements. The child was ultimately diagnosed with an upper brachial plexus injury (Erb’s Palsy) that was permanent. I was asked to provide testimony on the causation of a brachial plexus injury and her physical limitations.
The mother of a preterm (34 week) infant female was involved in a severe automobile collision. Within one hour of the injury the child was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery. Shortly after being delivered she had neonatal encephalopathy and seizures. Initial abdominal imaging showed a liver hemorrhage and imaging of the brain showed subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages. The child was alleged to have developmental and cognitive delays secondary to this injury. I was asked to provide causation testimony.
