Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder of the eyes that affects mostly premature babies (born before 31 weeks of gestation). If the obstetrician or midwife handling a pregnancy or delivery doesn't properly screen for ROP or doesn't take adequate measures to prevent a premature birth or its complications, ROP may be a consequence that was could have been avoided.

Severe Vision Problems & Blindness
ROP can lead to a baby's blindness or severe visual impairment. Richard M. Shapiro has extensive experience helping individuals affected by ROP due to medical malpractice. As a medically complex and difficult disorder, ROP requires a degree of knowledge that is not common among medical malpractice attorneys.

Parents should be aware of the symptoms of ROP, which include:

• severe nearsightedness
• abnormal eye movements
• leukocoria (white-looking pupils)
• crossed eyes

All babies whose birth weight is less than three pounds should be tested for ROP.

Many Risk Factors for ROP
Babies who are premature are at the highest risk for developing ROP, but other risk factors include:

• respiratory distress (e.g., neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(
• apnea (a brief gap in the baby's breathing)
• receiving a transfusion
• infection
• low blood oxygen
• slow heart rate (bradycardia)
• heart disease
• high carbon dioxide in the blood
• low blood acidity
  

The Expected Standard of Medical Care
Even if your baby was born at full term, if the delivery team did not handle one or more of these risk factors in a manner that is up to the expected standard of medical care, your child's ROP may have been due to medical malpractice.

ROP is one of the most common reasons for vision loss in childhood: about 15,000 infants are affected by ROP and 500 babies become legally blind from ROP each year in the U.S. A preventable loss of vision  makes it even more tragic.

The Shapiro Law Group Can Help You
If your baby has ROP, you probably have many questions and concerns. As a law firm with extensive experience with ROP, the Shapiro Law Group stands ready to assist you and represent you if necessary. Contact us online today to arrange a private consultation.