Has a Medical Professional’s Malpractice Contributed to Your Child Being Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy? Call 1-800-ATTORNEY.
Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that’s said to affect more than 10,000 babies across the country each year. The disorder is accompanied by a certain measure of motor dysfunction due to brain trauma. It’s thought that this condition most-often occurs due to negligence on the part of a healthcare professional during a woman’s pregnancy or during (and/or shortly after) labor.
Cerebral Palsy Causes
Cerebral palsy’s main cause is oxygen deprivation of the brain or an infection during pregnancy. Infections that the mother has can be passed on to the baby, resulting in brain injuries to the fetus which go on to disrupt the formation of the brain. During delivery, improper forceps use or leaving the baby in the birth canal for too long can lead to oxygen deprivation which can also damage the baby’s brain. The damage caused usually affect cells and areas of the brain that control movement, language and coordination.
It’s not easy to care for a child born with cerebral palsy. This is because there is no known cure for the condition, and the symptoms may get progressively worse with time. It’s also estimated that caring for a child with the condition may cost upwards of $1 million dollars, excluding the constant doctor’s visits as well as buying and replacing walking aids, clothes and other things that your child may need to make his or her life more comfortable. Why should these costs fall to you if someone else is to blame for this birth injury?
There are various forms of cerebral palsy. Before we take a look at these, it’s important to note that the effects of this disorder may not become apparent moments after delivery. You may only begin to notice that something’s not right after the 3rd or 4th month. Your child may also not be able to reach developmental milestones effortlessly like other children, and this should be a red flag that something isn’t right.
Here’s a short list of some of the different forms of cerebral palsy:
- Spastic cerebral palsy, the most common type of CP is characterized by stiff muscles and jerky, awkward movements.
- Hypotonic cerebral palsy, characterized by decreased muscle tone.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy, characterized by voluntary movements that aren’t well-coordinated.
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy, characterized by an inability to control the movement of hands and limbs as well as other parts of the body.
Cerebral palsy diagnosis takes time; most children born with this condition do not receive a diagnosis until they are 2 or 3. On average, about 1,500 children get this diagnosis every year. Many families who receive this diagnosis don’t have the needed financial resources to take care of their loved ones. This is where a law firm may be able to help.
Contact a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Today!
If your child’s condition was caused by medical malpractice, its important to seek justice through a claim or lawsuit. By filing a lawsuit naming the hospital (and/or doctors and nurses) who played a part in your child developing cerebral palsy, you may be able to collect money damages which will go a long way in helping your family cover the costs associated with this condition. Please contact one of our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys today at 1-800-ATTORNEY for your free consultation. Give us the opportunity to help your family through this difficult time. We look forward to hearing from you.