"Asphyxia During Labor Can Cause Cerebral Palsy." October 11, 2006
A landmark law review article authored by Dov Apfel and published in the American Journal of Trial Advocacy criticizes the self-serving litigation criteria adopted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and asserts that these criteria were created for the sole purpose of minimizing a brain damaged child's chances of proving that his or her injuries were caused by asphyxia (a condition that results from decreased delivery of oxygen and blood flow to the baby) during labor or around the time of birth. The article "Using a Differential Diagnosis to Prove that Intrapartum Asphyxia is a Significant Cause of Cerebral Palsy" is a comprehensive review of the worldwide literature. Mr. Apfel, who is recognized nationally and locally for his work as a teacher, author, and child advocate, hopes that judges, legislators, and the general public will discover the truth about the dangers of asphyxia during labor and around the time of birth and recognize the fact that it is a preventable cause of Cerebral Palsy.
Families and lawyers throughout the United States routinely contact Mr. Apfel to help them investigate potential negligence claims involving children with Cerebral Palsy. Mr. Apfel has participated in the litigation of obstetrical claims and cerebral palsy cases in Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.
For further educational information about the causes of Cerebral Palsy and how it can be prevented, ontact Mr. Apfel via phone 443-583-3181 or by e-mail at dapfel@myadvocates.com.
Dov Apfel is Listed as One Of The Top Lawyers in the Washington Area by Washingtonian Magazine
Washingtonian Magazine published its list of "Top Lawyers" in the Washington metropolitan area (including the District of Columbia and suburban Maryland and Virginia) in its December, 2004 issue. According to the Washingtonian, to compile the list, hundreds of attorneys in each of the specialties were contacted and asked which lawyers in their field -- other than themselves -- they would trust with their business. Lawyers with the most recommendations made the list.
In addition to being listed as one of the top lawyers in his field in the Washington area, Mr. Apfel is recognized nationally by lawyers throughout the United States as a "child advocate" for children with cerebral palsy and the victims of obstetrical malpractice. He is routinely contacted by families and lawyers to help them evaluate whether clinicians followed medical standards of care and to determine the causes and timing of events leading to cerebral palsy and irreversible neonatal brain damage. He has participated as co-counsel in the litigation of obstetrical cases in Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri, and Virginia.
Mr. Apfel has chaired several national medical-legal conferences on Obstetrical Malpractice. He also has authored numerous articles on the subject, and lectured on birth trauma and other subjects that are of interest to lawyers and health care providers who are involved in cerebral palsy and obstetrical malpractice litigation. Mr. Apfel is the former chairperson of the Medical Negligence Section of the Maryland Trial lawyers Association and the former co-chair of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He has an educational web site at www.birthinjuryinfo.com for parents and lawyers who want to learn more about the causes of cerebral palsy and how it can be prevented.
Mr. Apfel's law firm -- Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A. -- also was named as one of the top law firms in Washington.
If you want to discuss a specific case or issue with Mr. Apfel, he can be reached by telephone at 1-866-279-7600 or by e-mail at dapfel@myadvocates.com.
Dov Apfel Chairs National Medical-Legal Conference on Obstetrical Malpractice
Dov Apfel chaired a national medical-legal conference in Philadelphia on November 20 and 21 on Obstetrical Malpractice. The American Conference Institute invited Mr. Apfel to develop an educational program covering the critical subjects that are of interest to lawyers and health care providers who are involved in obstetrical malpractice litigation. More than 125 persons attended the 2 day conference, including obstetricians, nurses, midwives, and risk managers from several states. Mr. Apfel delivered the opening presentation on the latest medical and legal issues in obstetrical malpractice. Mr. Apfel has been invited to join the faculty and participate in the 2-day program again when it will take place in San Francisco in March, 2004 and later next year in Chicago.
Mr. Apfel is known throughout the United States for his contributions to the education of lawyers who handle obstetrical cases involving brain damaged children. He is routinely contacted by families and lawyers to help them evaluate whether the standard of care was followed in a particlur case and to determine the causes and timing of the events leading to irreversible neonatal brain damage. He has participated as co-counsel in the litigation of obstetrical cases in Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri, and Virginia.
Mr. Apfel is presently the Chairperson of the Medical Negligence Section of the Maryland Trial lawyers Association and the former co-chair of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He has an educational web site at www.birthinjuryinfo.com for parents and lawyers who want to learn more about the causes of cerebral palsy and how it can be prevented.
If you want to discuss a specific case or issue with Mr. Apfel, he can be reached by telephone at 1-866-279-7600 or by e-mail at dapfel@myadvocates.com.
Dov Apfel Will Chair MTLA 2003 Annual Medical Malpractice Program
Dov Apfel will serve as chair, moderator and guest lecturer at the Maryland Trial Lawyer Association's annual educational program on Medical Malpractice Litigation, to be held in Baltimore on
December 5, 2003. Mr. Apfel will present a lecture to Maryland Trial Lawyers titled "Cerebral Palsy is Preventable and Not Inevitable". He will critique the latest 2003 report from the American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists titled "Neonatal Encephalopathy and Cerebral Palsy".
Mr. Apfel is known throughout the United States for his contributions to the education of lawyers who handle obstetrical cases involving brain damaged children. He presently serves as Chair of the
Medical Negligence Section of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), and is a former co-chair of the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). Regularly contacted by families and lawyers to help evaluate standard of care issues and determine
the causes and timing of events leading to irreversible neonatal brain damage, Mr. Apfel has participated as co-counsel in the litigation of obstetrical cases in Arkansas, California, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri and Virginia.
Mr. Apfel recently served as co-chair, moderator and guest lecturer at the American Conference Institute's Obstetrical Malpractice Program in Philadelphia. The program was attended by more than 125 persons, including lawyers, obstetricians, nurses, midwives, and risk managers.
Mr. Apfel has an educational web site, www.birthinjuryinfo.com, for parents and attorneys who want to learn more about the causes of cerebral palsy and how it may be prevented. To discuss a specific matter with Mr. Apfel, he may contacted by phone at 1-866-279-7600, or by e-mail at dapfel@myadvocates.com.
Dov Apfel was elected Chair of the Medical Negligence Group of the Maryland Trial Lawyer's Association by the MTLA Board of Directors at its annual meeting on May 30, 2003. Mr. Apfel will plan educational educational programs for lawyers handling medical negligence cases throughout the State of Maryland.
Mr. Apfel also was invited to serve as Co-Chair of a national edcuational program on Obsteetrical Malpractice to be held at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia in November, 2003. The program is designed for physicians, midwives, nurses, hospital administrators and lawyers practicing thorughout
the United States. Many nationally known obstetricians have agreed to participate as speakers. For more information on this program, Mr. Apfel can be contacted by e-mail at dapfel@myadvocates.com.
Dov Apfel was invited to appear as one of the featured speakers at the annual program "Litigating Catastrophically Injured Infant Cases" sponsored by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. The program will take place in Atlanta on February 21. Mr. Apfel's topic is: Using the Medicine to Make your Case: Electronic Fetal Monitoring". The program is designed primarily for trial lawyers with experience in obstetrical and medical negligence cases.
Mr. Apfel helped a Minnesota family and their local counsel to achieve a major settlement in the amount of $1,425,000 for a 12 year old boy diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The family was claiming that a family practitioner and obstetrician failed to recognize signs of fetal distress during labor and to expedite the delivery. Earlier this year, Mr. Apfel helped a family and local lawyer in Missouri to achieve a settlement of $1,500,000 and a family and local attorney in Virginia to achieve a settlement of $1,300,000.
Dov Apfel is a principal in the law firm of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane, Suite 400, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770. He can be reached by
phone at 301-220-2200, or by e-mail. Mr. Apfel is contacted by lawyers and
families throughout the United States to assist them with potential medical
malpractice claims involving children who have died, or who sustained
irreversible brain damage. He is the former Co-Chair of the Birth Trauma
Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a member
of the Board of the Medical Negligence Section of the Maryland Trial Lawyers
Association.
Please Note:
This web site is not intended as legal advice on cerebral palsy, and is not a substitute for obtaining guidance from your own legal counsel about cerebral palsy litigation. It provides general educational information about the standards of care and causation issues that can arise in obstetrical malpractice and cerebral palsy litigation. Readers of the articles contained within this web site should not act upon the cerebral palsy information without first consulting with a lawyer who is experienced in evaluating and litigating cerebral palsy and obstetrical malpractice cases. Mr. Apfel is admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. When Mr. Apfel is asked to participate in cerebral palsy
litigation filed in other states, he will associate with, and act as co-counsel with, an attorney licensed in that state who is familiar with the local laws and procedures.
