Kansas City Baby Formula Attorneys
Put Decades of Experience in Your Corner
Welcoming a new baby into your family should be a joyful time, not one full of stress, frustration, and heartache. Due to a medical care professional’s failure to warn of the dangers posed by cow milk in baby formula, however, your prematurely born child may have suffered from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a potentially deadly disease. We at Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. are here to help families affected by the suffering or loss of a prematurely born baby due to NEC caused by baby formula.
Most parents are completely unaware of the potential danger of giving a cow milk-based formula – specifically, Similac and Enfamil – to their preterm infants, which is why the makers of these formulas – Abbot Laboratories Inc. and Mead Johnson Nutrition, respectively – are being sued by affected families. In some cases, medical professionals who also failed to warn of the use of these formulas in preterm babies are facing individual lawsuits. If you’d like to learn more about how our Kansas City baby formula attorneys can help you, reach out to Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. for legal assistance today.
Call our firm at (888) 398-2277 or contact us online to get in touch with someone who can help during a free consultation.
What Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)?
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal bacterial infection that mostly affects preterm babies (about 90% of cases). Specifically, a bacterial infection occurs in a preterm infant’s intestinal tissue, which can cause the inflammation and even death of this tissue.
Complications from NEC can include perforation of intestinal tissue, intestinal strictures, sepsis, cerebral palsy, and even death. NEC isn’t necessarily fatal and can be treated with antibiotics or, in serious cases, surgery.
What Is the Link Between Baby Formula & NEC?
It’s important to note that cow-based baby formulas such as Similac or Enfamil present the greatest risk of NEC in preterm infants between the ages of two to six weeks. Various studies have demonstrated preterm infants (babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy) were at an increased risk of developing NEC from cow-based formula than if they were provided a human-based alternative, like human breast milk. Despite this association, the makers of Similac and Enfamil failed to warn consumers that their products could harm premature infants.
Enfamil Baby Formula Lawsuits
Mead Johnson Nutrition is the maker of Enfamil, a cow-based baby formula brand. The company failed to warn consumers of the risks associated with feeding Enfamil products to premature babies – particularly the risk of developing NEC. You may have a valid claim if your child developed NEC after consuming any of the following products:
- Enfamil NeoPro EnfaCare Infant Formula
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 20 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil 24 Cal Infant Formula
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal High Protein
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 24 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil Premature Infant Formula 30 Cal with Iron
- Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier
Similac Baby Formula Lawsuits
Lawsuits are also being brought against Abbot Laboratories Inc., the maker of Similac. This brand of cow-based baby formula also fails to warn of the risks of NEC when fed to premature babies. Contact our attorneys if your child developed NEC after consuming the following baby formula products:
- Similac NeoSure
- Similac Alimentum Expert Care
- Similac Liquid Protein Fortifier
- Similac Human Milk Fortifier
- Similac Human Milk Fortifier Hydrolyzed Protein Concentrated Liquid
- Similac Special Care 20
- Similac Special Care 24
- Similac Special Care 24 High Protein
- Similac Special Care 30
Medical Professionals May Also Be Responsible
In addition to the makers of cow-based baby formulas, doctors and nurses can also be held responsible in medical malpractice lawsuits. Due to the overwhelming amount of data suggesting an association between cow-based baby formula and premature babies developing NEC, medical professionals who fail to warn of the use of these products – or promote their use in spite of the known risks – can be held liable through legal action.
Contact Bertram & Graf, L.L.C. For Help Now!
Our Kansas City baby formula attorneys are ready to respond if you are among the parents whose premature children suffered or died because of NEC caused by cow-based baby formula. You were not adequately warned of this risk by the manufacturer and may not have known of the risks due to the negligence of a medical professional. We can help you pursue responsible parties with legal action that can help you recover the costs associated with your child’s suffering from NEC.
For more information, reach out to us online and request a free consultation.