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If your premature baby has developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being fed formula-based milk, contact our experienced medical malpractice attorney for a free case evaluation.
Necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC is a gastrointestinal disorder that is highly prevalent in prematurely born infants with low birth weight. About 70% cases of NEC occur in premature infants and nearly 8% of newborn intensive care unit admissions account for NEC.
About 30% of NEC cases may end up in infant death, and therefore, the condition is quite dangerous and a life-threatening surgical emergency in newborns.
Babies with NEC develop infections, perforation of the intestine, and serious abdominal infections. The symptoms usually begin with feeding intolerance that may progress to systemic sepsis. Babies may need to undergo surgery to remove parts of their intestines leading to life-long complications. Each year, over 400,000 babies are born prematurely in the U.S. Prematurely born infants often face difficulty in feeding or need additional nutrition and hence cow’s milk formulas such as Similac and Enfamil are used in the neonatal intensive care unit. However, studies have linked use of cow’s milk baby formula to increased risk of NEC in premature infants. According to a study published in Neonatology journal, premature infants who were fed with formula were at a higher risk of developing NEC than those who were fed with breastmilk.
The formulas based on cow milk do not contain essential probiotics that are necessary for the growth of premature infants, which leads to the development of NEC. Here is a list of baby formula brands that have been mentioned in NEC lawsuits:
If your baby was born prematurely, then there is a high chance of your baby being fed with a type of formula-based cow milk while in the newborn intensive care unit. You need to watch out for symptoms of NEC in your baby including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal swelling. NEC often develops within 2 to 6 weeks of birth.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that prematurely born infants must be exclusively fed with breast milk to avoid the risk of developing NEC.
Most infants who survive NEC struggle with serious health problems during their life, such as:
Therefore, if you are a parent of a prematurely born infant who was fed a type of formula based on cow milk, and has developed NEC, then you are eligible to file a claim on behalf of your baby. If you end up in this situation, do reach out to our expert team who will be able to help you obtain financial compensation for your child’s unjust suffering.
If your child has developed NEC, you may file a personal injury claim on behalf of your child if the following criteria are met:
There are 624 NEC claims filed as of November 2024. In March 2024, a state court case ended in a $60 million plaintiff’s verdict in Illinois and another case in Missouri ended with a $496 million verdict in July 2024. Therefore, it is important to have your case reviewed by a NEC baby formula lawyer and have your rights safeguarded.
If your prematurely born baby has developed necrotizing enterocolitis as a result of being fed formula based on cow milk, you are most likely to be entitled to file a claim on behalf of your baby to recover financial compensation. You need to call us immediately and thoroughly explain your situation.
Once we have all the information and documents we need, our team will carefully review your case and inform you whether you qualify to file a claim on behalf of your baby.
If you do, we will proceed with filing your NEC claim.
