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Helping Families When Cortical Blindness Results From Delivery Room Mistakes

Cortical blindness, known to doctors as neurological visual impairment, or NVI, produces vision impairment through a unique process that is largely untreatable. Unlike more common types of vision impairment, which are typically caused by physical damage or defects in the cornea, retina, or eyeball, NVI is caused by brain damage in the visual cortex. As the portion of the brain that is the furthest removed from the blood supply, the visual cortex is uniquely vulnerable to damage caused by medical malpractice. At The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C., in Scottsdale, we work hard to help hold negligent medical professionals accountable and to help you recover the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled.

Diagnosis And Prognosis

Most young patients are diagnosed with NVI when their parents notice that they are unresponsive to visual stimuli but subsequent eye exams fail to reveal any physical defects. Following their diagnosis, children suffering from NVI must cope with fluctuations in their vision. These fluctuations are frequently exacerbated by seizure medications such as Dilantin and Phenobarbital. While short-term improvements may offer temporary hope to struggling children and their beleaguered parents, few children recover completely. NVI is a chronic condition, and most children require long-term therapy and daily doses of focused visual stimulation in order to function normally.

An Experienced Arizona Lawyer Who Handles All Types Of Birth Injuries

Attorney Robert H. Kleinschmidt knows the difficulties facing those struggling with NVI and is familiar with the different types of medical errors and conditions that can cause the condition, including:

Hydrocephalus — Formerly known as “water on the brain,” hydrocephalus refers to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to many forms of brain damage.

Perinatal Hypoxia — this simply refers to a partial or total disruption of the child’s oxygen supply during birth. Due to the distance between the visual cortex and the blood supply, even short interruptions in the flow of oxygenated blood can cause permanent damage.

Nervous system infections — infections of the central nervous system, such as meningitis, have been known to cause NVI. These infections are often attributable to medical malpractice.

Head trauma — most often the result of negligence on the part of the birthing team, some cases of NVI are caused by trauma to the child’s skull and brain tissue.

Contact Us If Your Child Has Been Harmed By A Delivery Room Error

If you are ready to force the medical personnel who caused your child’s blindness to help pay for current medical expenses and future care needs, The Law Office of Robert H. Kleinschmidt, P.C., is waiting to schedule your free consultation. Call 480-951-3949 or contact us online today to speak to a Scottsdale medical malpractice attorney and trial lawyer. We provide representation to families throughout the greater Phoenix area.