Long Island Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) Lawyers

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)

When a delivery team fails to monitor for or respond to fetal distress, and that failure harms the baby, it could be grounds for a medical malpractice claim. Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) happens when a newborn inhales meconium, blocking the airways and causing oxygen loss. A Long Island meconium aspiration syndrome lawyer can tell you whether you have a claim and what compensation may be available.

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and Medical Malpractice in New York

Many babies will pass meconium before birth and not be harmed. That means the presence of meconium in the baby’s amniotic fluid doesn’t always indicate medical negligence.

Amniotic fluid stained with meconium is a warning sign that the baby may be in distress. However, the main legal question is whether the medical team acted appropriately once that warning sign appeared. An MAS malpractice claim depends on the healthcare provider’s response or non-response.

Some conditions at birth can raise the risk of meconium aspiration syndrome in babies. A competent medical team is expected to recognize those risks and plan accordingly. Maternal conditions such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia can also increase those risks. Failing to account for known risk factors falls well below the New York standard of care.

New York Standard of Care

Long Island medical professionals must perform their duties under a strict standard of care as defined by New York State law. These duties include monitoring the fetal heart rate for signs of distress and responding promptly. That might include performing an emergency C-section, clearing airways, offering immediate respiratory support, or providing prompt resuscitation.

Medical teams that fail to follow even one of those steps can become subject to a personal injury claim for meconium aspiration syndrome. Contact Sullivan & Sullivan to discuss your case confidentiality.

MAS Complications

Meconium aspiration syndrome can be mild, but not always. MAS can also bring medical complications that require timely, competent, long-term care.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) in newborns occurs when the baby’s circulation can’t adjust to breathing air after birth. PPHN can worsen oxygen deprivation, while MAS can cause air to leak into the lungs or total respiratory failure. Long Island babies with these complications may need to stay in the NICU to receive specialized treatments.

The long-term outlook for MAS depends on whether the baby suffered oxygen deprivation to the brain before, during, or after birth. This is determined by carefully examining medical records and consulting experts on meconium aspiration syndrome and its complications. Sullivan & Sullivan works closely with medical experts to determine what happened and why.

Proving a MAS Claim in Long Island

Proving medical malpractice in Long Island means showing that a healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care that a competent provider would have. Your Long Island meconium aspiration syndrome lawyer must also show that the provider’s failure caused the child’s injury, and that the injury requires compensation.

Courts often rely on fetal monitoring strips, Apgar scores, cord blood gas results, and the delivery timeline. However, New York also requires claimants to get a certificate of merit before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Consult your lawyer to learn more.

Compensation and Statutes of Limitations

Meconium aspiration syndrome injuries can include developmental delays and chronic lung disease, both of which may require long-term care. Compensation for MAS injuries can help cover treatments, therapies, education, equipment, and other home or lifestyle modifications. Long Island has no damage cap in medical malpractice cases.

However, the deadlines are much stricter. New York’s law pauses the filing clock because your child is a minor, but only for 10 years from the date of the malpractice. The deadline is much shorter if a public or city hospital was at fault. Don’t wait to file. Book a consultation with Sullivan & Sullivan today.

Contact Info

Main Office:
200 Garden City Plaza, Suite 201 Garden City, NY 11530
NYC Office:
120 Broadway 27th Floor New York, NY 10271
Main Office:
(516) 746-6446
NYC Office
(212) 206-0708
Business Hours:
M-F: 7 AM - 7 PM
Sat: 10 AM - 5 PM
Sun: 12 PM - 4 PM

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