Crib Fall in the NICU: Understanding Parental Rights After a Tragedy
The NICU is supposed to be the safest place for the most vulnerable babies—a sanctuary where premature infants and critically ill newborns receive round-the-clock specialized care. Then the phone call every parent dreads arrives: “Your baby has fallen from their crib.” Your heart stops as you race back to the hospital, knowing that for these fragile patients, even a small fall can be catastrophic.
When basic safety protocols fail in the one place designed to protect your baby, you have legal rights that hospitals hope you won’t understand or pursue.
How NICU Crib Falls Happen
Crib falls in the NICU don’t just happen—they’re caused by human error and safety failures. These incidents occur when side rails aren’t properly secured, when babies are left unattended during position changes, or when medical equipment becomes tangled with infant restraints.
Sometimes, as in the heartbreaking case of baby Ellieana Peyton at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a nurse’s carelessness directly causes the fall. Ellieana suffered fatal injuries when monitor cords kept in a nurse’s pocket allegedly pulled her from her crib, causing a fractured skull and brain bleeds that ultimately claimed her 29-day life.
In a properly managed NICU, crib falls should be virtually impossible. Safety protocols exist specifically to prevent these tragedies, including proper crib rail procedures, secure equipment management, and constant supervision during any movement or repositioning of infants.
The Devastating Impact of NICU Falls
For premature or medically fragile infants, even a short fall can cause life-threatening injuries. Their skulls are soft and vulnerable, their brain tissue is delicate, and their bodies can’t withstand trauma that might only bruise an older child. Common injuries from NICU falls include:
- Brain Injuries: Skull fractures, brain bleeds, and swelling that cause disability or death.
- Spinal Cord Damage: Can result in paralysis or other neurological complications.
- Internal Injuries: Organ damage that may not be immediately apparent.
- Fractures: Broken bones that can affect growth and development.
- Long-term Complications: Developmental delays, seizure disorders, and more.
The emotional trauma for families is immeasurable. You trusted the hospital with your vulnerable child, and that trust was catastrophically broken.
Don’t Face This Alone
A crib fall in the NICU represents a fundamental failure of the hospital’s duty to protect your child. While nothing can undo the trauma your family has experienced, holding negligent medical providers accountable can help ensure other families don’t suffer the same devastating loss.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your NICU injury claim. When your baby is the victim of NICU negligence, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so I can evaluate your case right away.
