Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy
When medical malpractice happens in the delivery room, babies are at risk for irreversible and potentially life-threatening birth injuries. Cerebral Palsy is a type of birth injury that can have a lifelong impact on your child’s developing brain and motor skills. In many cases, cerebral palsy is caused by a lack of oxygen during the delivery process. It can also be caused by a trauma to the brain or even severe un-treated jaundice. Cerebral palsy impacts motor skills and can leave children with lifelong tremors, speech difficulties or even trouble walking and completing basic every-day tasks. Depending upon the severity your child’s cerebral palsy, you could be looking at seemingly mild nervous system dysfunction, lifelong crippling conditions and anything in between.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can impact babies, infants, children and adults in a variety of different ways, depending upon the level of severity and the extent of injury caused. From hearing and vision impairments to irritability and fatigue, the symptoms can involve just about any motor function. Children can have gait abnormalities, impaired coordination, and problems with balance and joint and muscle stiffness. Seizures and tremors are also possible. Unfortunately, Cerebral Palsy isn’t always diagnosed as quickly as it should be. If diagnosis is delayed, children are put at risk for further damage. If you’re concerned that your baby, infant or toddler is showing any signs or symptoms of cerebral palsy, immediate medical evaluation is critical.
Five Types of Cerebral Palsy
- Spastic
- Athetoid
- Hypotonic
- Ataxic
- Mixed
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
There are a variety of causes for birth injuries like cerebral palsy. In some cases, the damage can happen in the womb. For example, certain types of maternal infections can put babies at risk for developing cerebral palsy. Medical malpractice in the delivery room can lead to birth injuries that result in cerebral palsy. The risk goes up for breech births, premature births, trauma to the head during or after the delivery. One of the most common causes of cerebral palsy in the delivery room is a lack of oxygen. Early detachment of the placenta or other reasons why a baby might not receive enough oxygen can lead to asphyxiation birth injuries like cerebral palsy.
Medical Malpractice in The Delivery Room
Unfortunately, medical malpractice in the delivery room causes many long-lasting, life-threatening and preventable birth injuries. Trauma during birth due to medical malpractice is unacceptable, and healthcare providers need to be held accountable for putting the lives of mothers and babies at risk. Whether your child was injured due to a failure to properly monitor, failure to perform a timely C-section or an improper, negligent or dangerous response to fetal distress, it’s important to determine what factors caused the birth injury and cerebral palsy in the delivery.
Lifelong Impact of Cerebral Palsy
Depending on the severity of the birth, cerebral palsy can lead to lifelong physical disability, cognitive and emotional dysfunction and a plethora of other health difficulties, issues and problems. Whether your child needs expensive physical therapy or long-term in-home care, you and your attorney can discuss a short-term and long-term medical expenses. Listed below are some forms of treatment that your child may or may not need after a cerebral palsy diagnosis.
Common Treatments Associated With Cerebral Palsy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Recreational and occupational therapy
- Wheel chairs, braces, walkers and crutches
- Seizure mediation
- Hospitalization
- Corrective surgical procedures
- In home care
- Medication to help with muscle spasms
- Pain medication
Jackson Birth Injury Lawyer
In some cases, it can take up to 18 to 24 months to diagnose a child with cerebral palsy. Not hitting certain developmental milestones or displaying a variety of potential signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy can give clues as to what’s going on, but it’s absolutely vital to have a competent and trustworthy doctor and medical team. If you think medical malpractice in the delivery room resulted in a birth injury that left your child with cerebral palsy, it’s important to get with a personal injury attorney with proven birth injury case experience as soon as possible. The lifelong impact and costs associated with cerebral palsy can be astronomical, and you need an advocate on your side, looking out for your and your family.
If your child has suffered from a birth injury resulting in cerebral palsy in Jackson or in any of the surrounding Metro Area communities, contact the experienced and skilled team at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC at (601) 265-7766 for a free case consultation today.
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