As any preemie parent knows, premature babies are special. These tiny warriors often face unique challenges during their first few months of life, including failure to gain weight and grow. To help premature newborns gain weight, doctors often prescribe formula with extra nutrition.
Unfortunately, issues sometimes arise where babies become very sick after consuming baby formula. If you believe your baby developed Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) from using formula, our product liability attorneys are here to help. A Connecticut NEC formula lawsuit could be an option for seeking justice for your newborn and pursuing fair compensation.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis affects mostly premature infants. This disease occurs when there is an injury or inflammation in a baby’s small or large intestine that damages tissue and results in holes in the wall of a baby’s intestine. These holes allow bacteria to get into a baby’s bloodstream and waste to get into their abdomen.
Because premature newborns do not have strong enough immune systems to fight off the bacteria, they often suffer serious infections. Infants with NEC can also develop other serious health conditions, including sepsis, narrowing of the intestines, peritonitis, and short bowel syndrome.
Although most of the damage from NEC occurs within a baby’s body, they often manifest outward symptoms as well, including the following:
Doctors can diagnose the condition through x-rays, blood work, and fecal tests. With prompt treatment, babies can recover fully. However, some infants need extensive abdominal surgeries and can develop serious future health conditions or even die if they do not receive timely care. Severely premature babies with low birth weights are most at risk of suffering the most harm.
If a family suspects their child might have NEC, they should seek prompt medical assistance. They should also discuss their concerns with a Connecticut NEC formula attorney to get a better idea of their legal options.
Medical studies over the past few years have shown a link between the consumption of cow milk formula and NEC. Studies have confirmed that premature infants who consume cow-milk-based formula are at an increased risk of developing this intestinal condition. Parents and doctors should have been warned about the possible inherent dangers of using this kind of infant formula.
The manufacturers of baby formulas are currently defendants in class action product liability lawsuits on the grounds that they should have notified and warned doctors and parents about the potential risk of NEC from using their formulas. Connecticut families who are unsure about whether they qualify for legal action should consult with a lawyer who handles NEC cases right away.
If you believe your baby developed a serious intestinal or other condition after being fed cow-milk-based formula, you deserve help. You might be able to join in on one of the class action Connecticut NEC formula lawsuits. If you lost your child due to this condition, you might have grounds to file a wrongful death suit against the formula makers.
Get in touch with us at Berkowitz Hanna today to learn more about what we could do for you. We have handled cases like these before, and we are prepared to fight for what your family deserves.
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