What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition affecting the brain's ability to direct motor functions in the body, often leading to permanent physical disability.

2010-10-31

ATLANTA, GA, October 31, 2010 (Press-News.org) Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition affecting the brain's ability to direct motor functions in the body, often leading to permanent physical disability. The spastic muscle movements, posture and gait problems, language difficulty, and musculoskeletal problems associated with CP range from mild to severe, with some individuals experiencing very little interference with normal activity and others experiencing very difficult challenges in everyday life.

Cerebral Palsy is often mistakenly assumed to be related to intellectual and developmental disabilities, but the IQ of people with CP ranges from genius to mentally retarded, just like the non-CP population. People with Cerebral Palsy are more likely to experience learning disabilities, but this does not reflect actual intellectual capacity.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors, but most often is the result of severe oxygen deprivation in the brain, which can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy through age three. Prematurely born babies are much more likely to develop CP because their internal organs are not fully developed, leading to increased risk of oxygen deprivation.

In some cases, there is reason to believe that mistakes by medical professionals before, during, and after delivery have led to oxygen deprivation to the brain, causing the baby to later show signs of Cerebral Palsy. If it can be proved that negligence on the part of a doctor or hospital staff contributed to a child's Cerebral Palsy, there may be grounds to bring a lawsuit with help from Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys.

Dealing with Cerebral Palsy

Living with CP, especially in severe cases, presents special challenges for the individual and his or her family. Each person with Cerebral Palsy has unique abilities and disabilities and must develop ways to cope with their own unique challenges. People with Cerebral Palsy are capable of leading normal, happy, fulfilling lives and should be encouraged to reach their full potential despite the difficulties they face.

However, because people with CP often have extra medical needs, a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy can have a large financial impact on a family. Individuals with Cerebral Palsy may need physical and speech therapy for long periods of time, and may also require expensive custom equipment to help them walk and perform other daily activities. Therefore, if you believe that your child's cerebral palsy was caused by the negligence of a medical professional, an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney can help you determine your legal options.

If you decide to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit to receive compensation for the medical expenses of a child with Cerebral Palsy, it is important to understand that doctors and nurses are human beings who sometimes make mistakes. There are serious risks to treating CP as something that someone has done to your child. Encouraging your child to see him or herself as a victim can be psychologically damaging and limit his or her ability to mentally and emotionally cope with the challenges he or she faces.

For more information about Cerebral Palsy-related medical malpractice lawsuits in Atlanta, please visit Robbins & Associates, P.C. online to schedule a consultation at www.robbinslaw.com.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

What to Expect After Breast Augmentation

2010-10-31

These days, breast augmentation is so commonplace that it's almost a routine procedure for women. However, breast augmentation is still a plastic surgery that requires a recovery period and appropriate care to promote healing. The recovery period after breast augmentation surgery can be shorter or longer depending on the incision site and placement of the breast. No matter what type of breast augmentation you have, there are some general guidelines you should follow when recovering from breast augmentation: Rest For the three to five days following the breast augmentation ...

Restylane vs. Other Fillers

2010-10-31

If you are considering using dermal fillers, there are many to choose from, and you may be uncertain about which one will work best for you. Restylane is well-liked for its texture and its ability to hold its shape. It beautiful and natural-feeling results in lip plumping. However, depending on where the filler will be used and your overall goals, another type of filler may better suit your needs. Restylane Restylane is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler. It is not animal-based, so it is non-allergenic. It is a gel made up of tiny microspheres. Restylane comes in a form ...

Protecting Against an Accident in Northern California's Wine Country

2010-10-31

No Shortage of Hidden Dangers in Napa There is nothing more beautiful than taking a scenic weekend drive through Northern California's wine country. Sitting just an hour north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is one of the state's most popular tourist destinations, bringing in more than five million visitors each year. However, what was meant to be a relaxing getaway to Napa can quickly become a traveler's worst nightmare. All it takes is one car accident to ruin a vacation and the two main roads in and out of Napa Valley - Silverado Trail and Highway 29 - provide lots ...

Incidence of Medical Errors Rising

2010-10-31

Recently, the Canadian Medical Association held its 143rd annual meeting in Ontario, Canada. At the meeting, Colorado family physician Dr. John Findley reported his findings about the rising incidence of medical errors in the United States. According to Findley, medical errors have increased because of the breakdown in doctor-patient relationships and medical developments, including the emergence of more than 4,000 drugs and 6,000 diagnoses, all leading to the "mechanization" of medicine. Statistics cited by Findley indicate that almost 20 percent of the one million ...

Infant Deaths Linked to Sleep Positioners

2010-10-31

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have received 12 reports in the past 13 years of infants between the ages of one and four months who died when they were suffocated by or became trapped in a sleep positioner. "The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep." The ...

Shift From Paper to Electronic Medical Records: Cause for Concern?

2010-10-31

From banking and managing finances to shopping and ordering pizza, almost everything these days is done electronically. Not every sector of society has been quick to embrace the electronic age, however. The medical community has remained behind the digital curve. For a long time, the medical community kept handwritten records for patients and used handwritten orders for prescriptions. Backed by a $19.5 billion boost from the stimulus package passed in February 2009, though, the medical community is slowly starting to implement digital record keeping, moving toward widespread ...

Virginia DUI Penalties Among Toughest in Nation

2010-10-31

Motorists on Virginia's scenic roads take note: if you drive under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs (even legal prescription medications if they have a sedating effect), you will be caught, and you will face stiff penalties. Virginia's lawmakers have taken a firm stance against impaired driving in an attempt to slow the tide of DUI-related crashes, injuries and fatalities -- an alcohol-related crash occurs about every two minutes somewhere in America, and every half an hour someone dies in one. Virginia's DUI laws are no-nonsense and provide some of the most ...

No-Fault Divorce Comes to New York

2010-10-31

With a flick of the pen, Governor David Paterson has ended New York's holdout as the only state in the union to disallow no-fault divorce. Prior to the signing of the law, which took effect October 12th, New Yorkers were able to divorce only by proving fault for abandonment, adultery, cruelty or imprisonment. There was, however, a way for couples to divorce without fault prior to the new law. This required couples to enter into a separation agreement and live apart for at least one year. The catch with this option comes in the agreement; couples had to agree on all of ...

Do No Harm; If A Doctor Does, They Need To Admit To Conduct That Injures

2010-10-31

Hippocrates insisted that "The physician must...have two special objects in view with regard to disease, namely, to do good or to do no harm." It is with the faith that their physicians will "do good" or at least "do no harm" that patients seek out medical care. Recent studies have indicated that physicians are poorly trained in matters of patient safety and practice in an environment that often work against the wellbeing of those seeking their expertise. A recent study by the National Patient Safety Foundation noted that medical schools today focus principally on providing ...

The Use of Skype Ordered in Family Court

2010-10-31

For people in family court, staying in touch, especially via court-ordered visitation arrangements, can be a challenge. But some courts are implementing new high-tech approaches to address old family law issues. A New York judge recently ruled that as a condition of her out-of-state move away to Florida, a Long Island mother must make her two children available to talk to their father through Skype, an online video conferencing service. Although this was the first time such a condition has been ordered in New York, a number of other states have begun experimenting with ...