The news this month that about 1 in 10 of the world's babies are born premature sheds light on the significant medical and legal issues surrounding premature births and the frequent injuries, disabilities and hardship caused to infants and their families.

The New York birth injury lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool are often called to assist families dealing with the serious injury or death of a newborn infant. These tragic cases require special care and compassion for the families and extensive legal and medical knowledge and experience in the area of childbirth injuries.

The study released this month is the first attempt to measure a significant medical issue that is hidden in much of the world, according to The New York Times.

Released by the March of Dimes, the study reported the problem is most acute in poor countries, with the vast majority of the nearly 13 million premature infants born each year in Africa and Asia.

But the report found North America follows closely behind even these poorest nations -- and the number of premature infants born in the United States each year has increased more than 30 percent in the last 25 years.

Additionally, in countries like the United States, with sophisticated neonatal intensive care units, the emphasis is too often on headlines about miracle babies, which leads to a false sense of security and the under reporting of significant medical issues that often result from prematurity, including cerebral palsy, blindness and learning disabilities.

The report found 1 in 10 babies are born premature in the United States each year.

"These are conservative estimates," said Christopher Howson, an epidemiologist with the March of Dimes. "As shocking as this toll is, that toll will only rise."

The W.H.O. hopes to complete a more in-depth, country-by-country count next year.

The report found:
-An estimated 28 percent of annual neonatal deaths are due to premature birth.
-12.9 million babies are born too soon every year.
-North America (Canada and the United States combined) had the second-highest rate of premature birth, trailing only Africa.
-The rate of premature birth in the United States has increased 36 percent in the last 25 years.

If your family is struggling with the injury or death of an infant during childbirth, the New York birth injury attorneys and the personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (212) 406-1700.