When is Cerebral Palsy a Result of Medical Malpractice?

 Posted on September 10, 2021 in Medical Malpractice

 Birth injuries can be extremely frightening for new parents and their loved ones. Some birth injuries can lead to lifelong conditions, such as cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy has no cure. Many children with this condition require treatment the rest of their lives. In some cases, medical malpractice during childbirth plays a critical role in causing cerebral palsy and other lifelong conditions.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is most often caused before birth and typically affects movement and muscle tone or posture. It is a result of damage sustained by a developing and immature brain. The effects of cerebral palsy can range greatly from person to person, however, all individuals with cerebral palsy will have the condition their entire lives. 

Cerebral palsy (CP) can also occur at the time of birth or in early infancy. In some cases, CP may cause an individual to have difficulty swallowing or walking. Others may experience eye muscle imbalance and muscle stiffness. Many other symptoms may arise, such as epilepsy and blindness. 

There are two types of CP. The most prevalent type is congenital CP. Congenital CP occurs before or during birth and is more likely to occur if the infant is born too small or too early, if the mother had an infection during pregnancy, or if there were complicatinos during the birth process. The less common type of CP is called acquired CP and is caused by brain damage occuring more than 28 days after birth. It is more likely to occur if there is a brain infection or the child suffers a severe head injury. 

Medical Malpractice a Possible Cause of CP

It can be incredibly difficult to determine the cause of the cerebral palsy. CP may arise from maternal infections, fetal stroke, or bleeding in the brain. In other cases, the infant may suffer a traumatic head injury or a lack of oxygen to the brain. 

When a CP diagnosis involves preventable brain damage, it may be a result of medical malpractice. When a medical professional breach the duty of care expected and acts negligently, patients can be seriously harmed including the infant, mother, or both. 

For example, CP may occur if the medical providers failed to use forceps or other medical devices properly during the delivery of a child. Other medical mistakes that may have lead to CP include the delay of a C-section, use of incorrect or excessive amounts of certain drugs, leaving the infant in the birth canal for too long, and failure to perform proper examinations prior to birth.

Contact Our Rockford Medical Malpractice Attorney Today

Your child’s cerebral palsy may have been a result of medical negligence before, during, or shortly after childbirth. Because of the numerous factors involved and the authority held by doctors, hospitals, and their attorneys, a medical malpractice can be very difficult to prove. If your child’s lifelong condition could have been prevented had there been a higher quality of medical care, you deserve to have a skilled Winnebago County medical malpractice attorney on your side. The lawyers with Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law can help you to hold the responsible parties accountable and fight for your deserved compensation. Call 815-215-7561 today to schedule your free consultation. 

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/features/cerebral-palsy-11-things.html