Baby Blinded by Retinopathy of Prematurity?

Our Attorneys Focus on ROP Cases

New born baby

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a condition that only affects children born prematurely. Furthermore, only in cases of substandard medical care will it cause permanent blindness. If your child was blinded due to complications arising from ROP, then you likely have a case against the medical professionals responsible for your baby’s visual impairment or blindness.

Founder Richard M. Shapiro has three decades of experience handling hospital injury claims. Consequently, he has dedicated a large portion of his practice to helping families affected by this condition. Only a small portion of the population suffers from ROP blindness. Statistics show that between 400 and 600 babies (.0002 percent of all the babies born annually) go blind every year from the condition. However, since this birth injury is completely preventable, these families deserve justice.

What is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)?

Retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP, occurs when a premature baby’s eyes continue to develop outside of the womb. When babies are born of term, their blood vessels stop developing after birth. Sometimes in premature babies, however, the eyes’ blood vessels continue to grow and become engorged with blood.

In nearly 90 percent of cases, this condition will reverse itself before it causes serious harm. However, in certain instances, the vessels can stick to the retina and detach it. Once the retina detaches from the eye, the child loses sight forever.

Is ROP Blindness Preventable?

With the right screening procedures and treatment methods, blindness from ROP is completely preventable. Competent medical professionals should be able to recognize the warning signs of potential blindness and act in a timely manner to prevent it from happening. Maybe your doctor recognized the signs but chose not to perform the laser surgery that keeps the vessels from reaching and sticking to the retina. Maybe someone mixed up the charts or maybe the neonatal ophthalmologist somehow missed the warning signs altogether. In any case, these mistakes can constitute negligence. If that happens, then you are entitled to compensation for the permanent harm caused to your child.

My Child is Blind – What Can I Do?

Your best option is to speak with attorney experienced in handling these kinds of cases. Many medical malpractice attorneys might accept your case. However, a lawyer who focuses almost exclusively on ROP baby blindness is exceedingly rare. Richard M. Shapiro is an advocate for eliminating ROP blindness completely. He offers free consultations so you can find out if you have a potential case. He has won recoveries for parents and children who simply want justice and compensation for all the trauma and expenses they are suddenly facing. Call or submit a form to our Tampa Bay attorneys today to learn more about your best options moving forward.

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