Cerabral Palsy Attorneys - Handling Cerebral Palsy Cases Nationwide

Cerebral Palsy and Brain Injuries in Children can be due to Complications at Birth

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Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions resulting from severe damage to the motor and sensory areas of the brain. This life-long condition affects the control of movement and posture in a child and may cause a number of other physical, cognitive, and emotional effects.

While the exact cause of cerebral palsy is often hard to pinpoint, this condition is typically attributable to risk factors present during pre-natal development, labor and delivery, or infancy. Acquired causes of cerebral palsy can occur anytime between birth and the first two years of a child's life. Common risk factors for cerebral palsy include motor vehicle accidents, falls, child abuse, bacterial meningitis, and other infections that severely damage the brain. However, about 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases are acquired before birth or during delivery.

Unfortunately, many cases of cerebral palsy are a result of preventable medical mistakes caused by doctors, hospitals, and medical staff. Some known medical errors that may lead to cerebral palsy include, but are not limited to:

• Maternal infections during pregnancy - Recent studies have found that maternal placental membrane infections and urinary tract infections are two common risk factors for cerebral palsy. If a medical professional fails to adequately diagnose and treat infections, they may be held liable if a child develops cerebral palsy.
• Lack of oxygen to the fetus before or during delivery - When the placenta is not functioning adequately or it tears away from the uterus wall before delivery, the fetus may suffer from oxygen deficiency. Furthermore, during delivery a delayed cesarean section, excessive use of vacuum extraction, or failure to read a baby's vital signs may be a contributing factor to cerebral palsy. A medical professional must closely monitor fetal development before and during delivery to help prevent cerebral palsy.
• Blood diseases - Sometimes a mother's blood is incompatible with her fetus, which can result in severe jaundice and brain damage. A doctor can prevent this by treating an RH-negative woman with a blood product called RH immune globulin to prevent cerebral palsy.
• Severe jaundice - Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes as a result of too much bilirubin in the blood. Severe jaundice leads to brain damage that causes cerebral palsy. A medical professional must screen and test newborns for severe jaundice shortly after birth. In the event that severe jaundice is diagnosed, proper treatment must be administered to help prevent the condition from developing.

There are numerous other ways in which a doctor or other medical provider's negligence causes or contributes to cerebral palsy. To determine whether medical negligence was a factor in your child's development of cerebral palsy, it is wise to seek the early advice of an experienced attorney who can evaluate your case.

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are a number of treatment options that can enable a cerebral palsy child to lead a fulfilled life. Treatment can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, drug therapy, surgical procedures, and medical devices.

If you suspect your child developed cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, you may be eligible to pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek compensation for the past and future losses you and your child have endured.

A qualified medical malpractice attorney with experience in cerebral palsy litigation can be instrumental in protecting your legal rights and interests. Our attorneys are prepared to evaluate your case to determine whether medical errors caused your child's cerebral palsy. We can also determine the best way to protect and maximize your legal interests. Please contact us today to learn more about cerebral palsy by speaking with a qualified attorney free of charge.

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