It’s one thing to look at statistics about childhood fatalities or to consider the reasons why a child may pass away during birth or in the hospital after birth. It is quite another to really think about the trauma that this presents for the parents and how their lives will never be the same.
Therapists point out that it’s one of the most traumatic events that any parent can go through. They even say that it can “fundamentally change” who the parents are after the event.
This isn’t something that you heal from. It’s not a pain that goes away. People who deal with loss often feel like they’re under a dark cloud, and they wonder if they’ll ever get back to how they felt before it happened. The unfortunate truth is that you may not.
The event can also shake some of your deep beliefs about how life works. Parents naturally assume that they will pass away before their children. They imagine passing away in their 80s, in a nursing home, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Losing a child early in life disrupts that idea and makes them feel like everything is far more fragile than they ever dreamed.
All of this can lead to serious issues, such as depression and PTSD. You may need treatment and medication for years to come. You may find it hard to return to the life you once enjoyed. Keep all of this in mind if you’re looking into your potential rights to financial compensation after a doctor’s error leads to a child’s death.