When a newborn develops jaundice, timely treatment is critical. While mild cases are common and typically harmless, delayed treatment of jaundice can lead to severe complications, including brain damage known as kernicterus. For new parents, learning that your child’s condition could have been prevented with proper care is devastating. Depending on the details of your case, delayed treatment of jaundice may not simply be a tragic mistake, but rather the direct result of medical malpractice.
At Anapol Weiss, our birth injury attorneys have helped families, nationwide, understand what went wrong, why it happened, and what legal steps can be taken to hold negligent providers accountable.
Understanding Newborn Jaundice
Jaundice occurs when a baby’s blood contains too much bilirubin, a yellow substance produced during the normal breakdown of red blood cells. Because a newborn’s liver is still developing, bilirubin sometimes builds up faster than the body can process it. This buildup causes the baby’s skin and eyes to appear yellow.
Most jaundice cases resolve quickly with monitoring and simple treatments such as phototherapy, which is when ultraviolet lights are shown on the baby’s skin. However, when bilirubin levels rise too high or go untreated for too long, it can travel to the brain and cause permanent damage. Common damage includes hearing loss, developmental delays and cerebral palsy. That’s why immediate testing, accurate diagnosis, and prompt treatment are essential.
When Delayed Jaundice Treatment Crosses Into Medical Malpractice
Not every case of newborn jaundice involves medical malpractice. However, when doctors, nurses, or hospitals fail to provide care that meets accepted medical standards, and the delay in treatment causes harm, it may be considered medical negligence.
Common examples of negligence in jaundice cases may include:
- Failure to recognize early symptoms of jaundice (such as yellowing skin or eyes)
- Not ordering a bilirubin test when risk factors are present.
- Delaying phototherapy or other treatment, such as intravenous immunoglobulin, once high bilirubin levels are detected.
- Ignoring hospital discharge guidelines, such as failing to schedule follow-up bilirubin testing within the first few days of life.
- Inadequate communication between nurses, pediatricians, and parents about warning signs or next steps.
If any of these failures led to your baby’s injury, a detailed review of their medical records can determine whether the delay was avoidable and whether you have grounds for a medical negligence claim.
Serious Complications Linked to Delayed Jaundice Treatment
When jaundice isn’t promptly treated, bilirubin can reach toxic levels in the bloodstream, leading to long-term harm. The most severe condition caused by delayed treatment is kernicterus, a type of brain damage that can result in:
- Cerebral palsy
- Hearing loss
- Seizures
- Developmental delays
- Difficulty with motor coordination and speech
Even when kernicterus is avoided, moderate brain injuries from high bilirubin can still cause lifelong cognitive and physical challenges. In these cases, the cost of ongoing therapy, adaptive equipment, and medical care can be overwhelming for families.
How Hospitals Should Prevent Delayed Treatment of Jaundice
Medical professionals have clear, established guidelines for monitoring and managing newborn jaundice. Hospitals are expected to:
- Screen all newborns for jaundice before discharge using a bilirubin test.
- Assess risk factors, such as premature birth, bruising during delivery, older maternal age, or family history.
- Follow up within 24–72 hours after discharge, especially if early signs of jaundice are present.
- Treat elevated bilirubin levels promptly using phototherapy or, in severe cases, an exchange transfusion.
When these steps are skipped or delayed, a newborn’s health can decline rapidly. A single missed test or misread chart can lead to permanent consequences.
How a Skilled Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help Your Family
If you believe your baby suffered harm because of delayed treatment of jaundice, you may be wondering what to do next. Hospitals and insurance companies rarely admit fault voluntarily, and determining what went wrong requires deep understanding of medical protocols.
An experienced birth injury attorney can:
- Obtain and analyze your child’s medical records
- Consult with pediatric and neonatal experts to identify where the delay occurred
- Determine whether the medical team failed to meet the accepted standard of care
- Calculate the full extent of damages, including your child’s future care needs
- Build a case to hold negligent providers accountable through settlement or trial
At Anapol Weiss, we work with experienced medical professionals who specialize in neonatal care to ensure every case is investigated with precision and compassion.
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How to Prove Medical Negligence in a Newborn Jaundice Case
To establish that delayed treatment of jaundice was medical negligence, your medical malpractice attorney must prove:
- A duty of care existed between the medical provider and your baby.
- The provider breached that duty by failing to act according to accepted standards.
- The breach caused your child harm, such as kernicterus or another serious injury.
- Your family suffered damages, including medical costs, long-term care expenses, or emotional distress.
Each newborn jaundice case is unique. Evidence such as hospital charts, lab results, and expert testimony will be key to building a strong medical negligence claim.
Compensation for Families Affected by Delayed Jaundice Treatment
Unfortunately, financial recovery cannot undo the harm your child has suffered. However, it can provide critical support for your family both now and in the future. Compensation in a jaundice-related medical negligence case may include:
- Medical expenses (past, current, and future)
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Special education or developmental support
- Home care and adaptive equipment, including walkers, gait trainers, wheelchairs, or communication devices.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of future earning capacity for your child
A skilled birth injury attorney will work to ensure your family receives the resources necessary to secure the best possible quality of life for your child.
When to Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer After Suspecting a Jaundice-Related Injury
The sooner you reach out to an attorney, the stronger your malpractice case may be. Evidence, witness statements, and medical documentation can fade or be lost over time. In Pennsylvania, birth injury claims generally must be filed within two years of discovering the injury, though certain exceptions apply when the victim is a minor. In cases like these, the child has until their 20th birthday to file a medical negligence claim.
At Anapol Weiss, we represent clients throughout the country. Statute of limitations vary from state to state, so we encourage you to contact us to learn more about your unique filing deadline. We can help you determine the specific deadlines and legal options for your case.
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Contact Anapol Weiss for Birth Injury Legal Support
If your child suffered harm because of delayed treatment of jaundice, you deserve answers and justice. At Anapol Weiss, our experienced birth injury lawyers understand the emotional and financial toll of these preventable injuries. We’ll investigate what happened, identify who was responsible, and fight to recover the compensation your family needs to move forward.
Contact Anapol Weiss today for a free consultation. We proudly represent families throughout Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown, and nationwide in select cases.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.