If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of medical malpractice during birth, our New York-based team of experienced malpractice attorneys can help. Please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out the form to the right of the page for immediate attention to your case. We will fight for you!
Cerebral Palsy, which occurs when there is insufficient oxygen or physical trauma to a child’s brain, is a common example of a birth injury that can be caused when medical personnel are not vigilant during the birthing process.
How Cerebral Palsy could affect your child
Cerebral Palsy is brain damage. It affects the nerves that control the body's muscles. Depending on the location and severity of damage to the brain, complications could include:
1. Impaired gross motor skills (moving arms and legs, walking)
2. Impaired fine motor skills (grasping and manipulating objects)
3. Muscle spasms
4. Difficulty with speech
5. Mental retardation
6. Complete lack of muscle control
Cerebral Palsy cannot be cured, although treatment options do exist. Treatments for children afflicted with Cerebral Palsy can include drug and chemical therapies, physical therapy and surgery.
Cerebral Palsy can be caused by medical malpractice
During a birth, the treating obstetrician is required to monitor the progress of labor and the status of a fetus in a timely and vigilant fashion through frequent vaginal examinations and electronic fetal heart monitoring, either abdominally or internally.
For example, a lack of progress in labor or an abnormal fetal heart rate should be recognized as fetal distress, and preventative measures should be taken.
The delivery team must also monitor the infant’s position. If the baby is improperly positioned during delivery, the treating physician must be ready to take immediate action, possibly ordering that a Cesarean section (C-section) to be performed. Delays in action can lead to complications like Cerebral Palsy.
Cerebral Palsy can be caused by misuse of medication
Any medications utilized during the birthing process must also be correctly administered to prevent injuries to the fetus. Overdoses of certain drugs can affect breathing in the mother, which affects fetal oxygen supplies.
The treating physician must ensure that the fetus receives enough oxygen and maintains proper blood pH levels during birth.
Cerebral Palsy can be caused by physical trauma
Finally, difficult deliveries may be assisted by vacuum extractors or forceps. If used improperly or with excessive force, these tools can cause significant trauma to the soft tissue of the infant’s skull, to the point where bleeding and damage occurs to the brain.
Legal Help for Cerebral Palsy caused during birth
If the treating physician or obstetrician fails to prevent the conditions described above, or fails to react in a timely manner when these conditions are present, they may be considered to have acted in a manner not consistent with established medical practices and might be held responsible for Medical Malpractice.
If you suspect that your child's birth injury might be the result of Medical Malpractice or simply need more information, please contact us at 800-966-4999 or fill out the free case evaluation form to the right of your page for an immediate review of your case. We will fight for you!
