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Vitamin K deficiency bleeding or VKDB is a dangerous but preventable condition which can cause permanent injury to a baby’s brain.

In the UK, it is standard maternity practice for babies to be given vitamin K immediately after birth, as this is known to prevent VKDB. This means that VKDB brain injury and its devastating consequences are now rare. It also means that unless consent for vitamin K treatment was withheld by the baby’s parents, failure to give vitamin K to a newborn baby is negligent care.

Boyes Turner’s neonatal brain injury lawyers can recover substantial compensation for babies who have suffered VKDB brain injury and disability as a result of negligent maternity care.

What is VKDB?

VKDB or vitamin K deficiency bleeding is a bleeding disorder which can affect newborn babies. The condition is sometimes called by its former name, haemorrhagic disease of the newborn or HDN. It is more commonly known as VKDB because it is caused by a lack of vitamin K.

We need vitamin K in our bodies so that our blood clots normally. This allows wounds to heal and prevents excessive bleeding. Our bodies make some vitamin K from bacteria in our intestines, and the rest comes from our diet.

Babies are born without any vitamin K. In the first few weeks of life, their bodies cannot make vitamin K because their intestines do not yet contain the necessary bacteria to produce it. If they bleed, their blood does not have enough vitamin K to form a clot. This puts them at risk of serious injury, particularly severe injury to the brain, from intracranial bleeding.

To prevent babies from suffering this life-threatening condition, it is standard practise in most developed countries to give supplemental vitamin K to all newborn babies. In countries, such as the UK, where vitamin K is given as standard treatment to babies immediately after birth, VKDB is very rare. Sadly, where cases of VKDB occur they may have been caused by negligent failure to give vitamin K, or where the parents of a breast-fed baby have refused to consent to their baby receiving vitamin K treatment.

Why choose Boyes Turner?

Our cerebral palsy and neonatal brain injury lawyers recover compensation for children whose brain injury and disability were caused by mistakes or delays in maternity treatment or neonatal resuscitation.

  • We are nationally acclaimed medical negligence lawyers. We are recognised as leading clinical negligence experts by Chambers Directory and Legal 500.
  • Our award-winning solicitors are accredited for our expertise by the Law Society, AvMA and APIL. We secure maximum compensation settlements for our clients which make the best provision for their current and future needs.
  • We offer legal aid or ‘no-win-no-fee’ (CFA) funding for the claim, depending on what is best for the child. 
  • We have an extensive and highly experienced medical negligence team with proven skills to succeed in high value, complex claims involving catastrophic injury and severe disability.

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding frequently asked questions

Who is at risk from VKDB?

All newborn babies are at risk of serious injury or death from vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in the first few months of life. This is because their bodies cannot make vitamin K as they do not yet have the necessary bacteria in their intestines.

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What kind of bleeding does a baby suffer with VKDB?

A baby with vitamin K deficiency bleeding may bleed uncontrollably because their blood cannot clot properly. Normal blood clotting is necessary to enable wounds to heal.

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What kind of mistakes lead to VKDB injury compensation claims?

It is recommended that all newborn babies receive vitamin K within 24 hours of birth. Parents who are considering refusing consent for their baby to receive vitamin K should be fully informed of the benefits of vitamin K and the risk of VKDB and the harm it could do to their baby.

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What injuries can lead to VKDB injury compensation claims?

Boyes Turner can recover compensation for children who have suffered severe injury from VKDB caused by medical negligence, such as:

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What compensation can be claimed for a child with VKDB brain injury?

Boyes Turner’s neonatal brain injury lawyers can help families recover substantial compensation after their child has suffered serious brain injury from VKDB following negligent maternity care.  Once liability is established, we secure interim payments to help meet our clients’ urgent needs for care, therapies, suitable or adapted accommodation and specialist equipment and relieve financial hardship. Settlements are carefully structured to ensure that money will be available to meet the child’s lifelong needs arising from their disability.

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Meet your specialist team

Our specialist Vitamin K deficiency bleeding team are considered leaders in the field and have a significant amount of expertise.
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Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

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Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

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Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

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Tara Pileggi-Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

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Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

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Ben Ireland

Solicitor

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Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

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Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

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Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Tara Pileggi-Byrne photo
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

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