In recent years, medical studies have indicated a link between certain kinds of baby formula and a medical illness called necrotizing enterocolitis. If you have a newborn, you need to know which kinds of baby formula may put your child at risk for this disease.
What Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a disease that impacts the intestines of infants. NEC most commonly occurs when infants are fed formula containing cow’s milk, instead of only consuming human breast milk. Necrotizing enterocolitis is caused by bacteria from the cow’s milk in formula infecting the walls of an infant’s intestine. If left untreated, this infection can lead to inflammation of the intestinal tissues and eventually result in a perforation of the intestine. When the intestine is perforated, fecal matter or other digestive fluids can leak out into the abdomen, causing potentially fatal sepsis. NEC is one of the leading gastrointestinal causes of infant death.
What Baby Formulas Are Believed to Cause NEC?
Infants who are born prematurely are often fed with baby formula in lieu of or as a supplement to breast milk to help provide them with extra nutrition that can speed up their growth. However, many brands and specific products of baby formula contain cow’s milk which can put infants, especially premature babies, at risk of developing NEC.
In particular, two manufacturers have been subject to recent lawsuits claiming that they failed to warn parents that their baby formula products created an increased risk of NEC. Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of Similac, and Mead Johnson & Company, the manufacturer of Enfamil, are alleged to have known of the risks of cow’s milk-based baby formulas for causing NEC for premature babies and infants.
Enfamil products that contain cow’s milk include:
- DHA-In-Sol
- 24 Calorie Formula
- Enspire
- Human Milk Fortifier Liquid/Powder
- NeuroPro EnfaCare
- NeuroPro Gentlease
- Nutramigen
- Premature 24 Cal
- Premature 30 Cal
- Premature Infant Iron Formula 20 Cal
- Premature Infant Formula 24 Can
- Premature Infant Iron Formula 30 Cal
Similac products that contain cow’s milk include:
- 360 Total Care
- Alimentum
- Expert Care Alimentum
- Human Milk Fortifier Concentrated Liquid
- Human Milk Fortifier Powder
- Human Milk Fortifier Hydrolyzed Protein Concentrated Liquid
- Liquid Protein Fortifier
- NeoSure
- Special Care
- Special Care 20/24/24 High Protein/30
Legal Remedies If Your Baby Suffered from NEC Due to Their Formula
If your baby developed NEC after being fed formula containing cow’s milk that was manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson & Company, or another manufacturer, your family may be entitled to recover compensation where the manufacturer may have withheld information about the risks that their product could cause NEC, or misled parents about the safety of their products for premature babies and infants.
In a product liability claim, your family may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses such as:
- Costs of medical treatment for your baby’s NEC
- Long-term care expenses if your baby is left with permanent impairments due to NEC
- Pain and suffering
If your family has lost a child due to NEC, you may be entitled to financial recovery for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Emotional trauma and distress
Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Baby Formula Case in Florida
Did a loved one sustain serious injuries due to defective baby formula in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of defective baby formula products in Hollywood, Miramar, Coral Springs, Davie, and throughout Florida. Call (561) 533-0345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as offices in Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.