Cerebral palsy and medical negligence

February 06, 2013

Cerebral palsy and medical negligence

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cerebral palsy is the most common childhood motor disability in the United States. There are various causes of cerebral palsy, a few of which include medical negligence.

Cerebral palsy victims may need a lifetime of care and, potentially, even 24-hour care. Given that cerebral palsy has such profound implications on a person's life, and if the cerebral palsy was the result of medical negligence, an injured party may be entitled to significant compensation for his or her injuries.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is not a singular illness, but a group of various neurological disorders. Cerebral means related to the cerebrum, the dominant part of the brain that controls muscle movement, memory, the ability to learn, and communication skills. Palsy means partial or complete muscle paralysis.

There are various types of cerebral palsy with different characteristics. Some of the issues people suffering from cerebral palsy face include: loss of muscle control, poor motor skills, posture problems, speech issues, and, in some cases, mental retardation.

Symptoms of cerebral palsy typically show up during the first three years of life. Symptoms include: delayed achievement of developmental milestones like crawling, speaking and walking; abnormal muscle tone/slouching while sitting; stiff muscles that contract abnormally; difficulty feeding; easily startled; and poor coordination and balance.

Children and adults with cerebral palsy require a great deal of care and often receive treatment from a multitude of practitioners such as physical therapists, speech and occupational therapists, social workers, and special education advisors in addition to their regular doctors.

While the severity of the disease varies from person to person, individuals with cerebral palsy may be "normal" cognitively speaking, that is, capable of average rational human thought. Conversely, cognitive skills may be severely impaired, reducing a child's ability to think, perceive and communicate, while also having major implications for awareness and behavior.

Cerebral palsy and medical negligence

Some cases of cerebral palsy occur because the baby is deprived of oxygen during birth. It is crucial that both the mother and child are monitored properly to detect signs of distress during labor and delivery, and a doctor must act quickly if there are problems in order to prevent damage from occurring.

An unborn baby having a stroke can also cause cerebral palsy. Causes of strokes in unborn babies include untreated pre-eclampsia, a condition in the mother characterized by high blood pressure, and a prolonged second stage of labor, both of which are medical malpractice issues as well.

How a lawyer can help

Cerebral palsy brought about by medical negligence may entitle the affected individual to compensation. If your child developed cerebral palsy due to a birth injury, it is advisable to contact an attorney who is experienced in bringing birth injury lawsuits. An attorney can conduct a detailed investigation and help you to build a successful case against the negligent party or parties.

Article provided by Law Offices of Kelly R. Reed, PLLC
Visit us at http://www.reedkimble.com