NJ Cystic Fibrosis Lawyers

Cystic Fibrosis

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cystic fibrosis is a "genetic disease that causes mucus to build up and clog some of the organs in the body, particularly the lungs and pancreas." The mucus can also allow bacteria and other germs to remain in the lungs’ airways, causing inflammation of lung tissue, and ultimately lung damage. The mucus can also prevent needed enzymes from traveling to the intestines, causing a variety of health conditions which can require prolonged and/or extensive care; often a lifetime in duration.

The taking of proper medical history prior to and/or during pregnancy is important in determining whether a child could possibly be born with cystic fibrosis (CF), or if a particular couple is at an increased risk for having a child with the disease. If both parents are carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene, then their child has a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting the gene from each parent, and a 1 in 2 chance that they will inherit at least one of the defective genes from one parent. Therefore, the majority of the time, children whose parents are both genetically cystic fibrosis positive, will be CF positive as well. Determining the presence of this gene is important in helping to plan post-delivery treatment of the disease, or to make decisions with regard to the current pregnancy and also future pregnancies. Therefore, it is essential that timely and proper medical screenings be performed by physicians in order to ascertain whether or not the problem does and will exist.

Diagnosing the existence of the disease or the genetic propensity toward having a child with CF are responsibilities of your healthcare providers. A failure to make such diagnoses can result in lifelong impairment that can significantly diminish or affect an entire family's quality of life. There are also circumstances when an older child is born with CF which is not timely diagnosed prior to birth or after birth by a pediatrician or pediatric specialist. In those cases, the failure to timely diagnose CF in an older child may affect screening for the disease in the parents’ future pregnancies.

According to the CF Foundation, 30,000 children and adults in the United States are affected by cystic fibrosis. The symptoms of this permanent condition include frequent lung infections, wheezing or shortness of breath, the inability to grow at a normal rate, and persistent coughing. A person suffering from cystic fibrosis may require therapy including the use of pancreatic enzyme supplements almost every time he or she eats, taking multi-vitamins, clearing or suctioning his or her airway to ensure unobstructed breathing, and taking medication that is administered through a nebulizer.

If you or a family member suffers from cystic fibrosis, and you feel as though your healthcare providers failed to diagnose cystic fibrosis prenatally in your child, call the birth injury lawyers at Blume Goldfaden. Our experienced New Jersey Cystic Fibrosis lawyers will evaluate the circumstances of your prenatal care and your child’s birth and illness to determine if your family may have a viable claim for medical negligence. Contact us at 973-635-5400 for a no cost consultation.