Cerebral palsy, or CP, is not any one disorder: the National Institutes of Health describes cerebral palsy as “a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement, muscle coordination, and balance.” In recent years, much research has been done about the causes of CP, finding that about 10% of all cases are the result of medical negligence. Considering that up to 10,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with the condition every year, a significant number of families are affected by medical errors in serious, potentially devastating, ways.
CP is a life-long condition
A child diagnosed with cerebral palsy has that diagnosis for life. There are treatments available to help with the symptoms, but no cure. Thankfully, many people with cerebral palsy go on to live “normal” lives; they go to school, they go to work, and they start families of their own. Because CP is not a progressive condition, there is no worry that the person’s brain function will deteriorate any further. For some victims, however, the condition is so severe that they require assistive technologies to help them, like wheelchairs or respirators, and some will never be able to feed, clothe or bathe themselves, necessitating a lifetime of caregiving services.
Medical errors that may lead to cerebral palsy
The type of brain damage that “triggers” the release of chemicals which can lead to cerebral palsy, as the NIH puts it, can be caused by trauma. When that trauma is the result of the actions (or inaction) of a negligent healthcare provider, you may be able to claim medical negligence as the cause of your child’s CP. Some of the medical errors that could lead to the condition include:
- Failure to properly monitor the vital signs of the mother and fetus pre-term
- Failure to diagnose and subsequently treat an infection
- Improper use of forceps or a vacuum extractor
- Failure to diagnose an Rh incompatibility
- Failure to diagnose and respond to signs of fetal stress
- Penetrating brain injuries during labor or during a C-section
If you are unsure whether or not your child’s cerebral palsy was the result of medical negligence, speaking with an experienced birth injury attorney may help you. At Crandall & Pera Law, our attorneys review medical documentation with our on-staff Registered Nurses, and document evidence that may prove negligence. We understand that you’re fighting for your child’s future. Let us help with that fight.
Crandall & Pera Law protects the rights of birth injury victims throughout Ohio and Kentucky. To schedule a free consultation at one of our offices with an experienced OB/GYN negligence lawyer, we invite you to contact us or call us at 877.651.7764 in Kentucky, and 877.686.8879 in Ohio. We know what it takes to build a successful case.