Medical errors can lead to cerebral palsy

Although cerebral palsy can be caused by gene mutations or infections, it can also be caused by medical malpractice.

2013-03-13

March 13, 2013 (Press-News.org) Medical errors can lead to cerebral palsy

Article provided by Joseph Chaiken & Associates
Visit us at http://www.jchaikenlaw.com

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 out of 303 children in America are born with cerebral palsy. Additionally, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, more than 500,000 Americans have the disorder. Although there are many causes, medical errors made before or during birth cause a significant number of cases.

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affect motor function. There are four types: spastic, ataxic, dyskinetic and mixed. Each type affects different motor abilities. Spastic cerebral palsy, by far the most common type, causes muscle stiffness, reduced ability to walk and involuntary muscle contractions. In addition to the pain this condition causes, it can cause several other disorders such as:
-Difficulty swallowing
-Vision or hearing problems
-Inability to speak
-Breathing problems
-Learning disabilities
-Loss of bladder or bowel control
-Seizures
-Joint problems

The symptoms of the disorder first appear within three years following birth. Additionally, the severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. For example, some people will be able speak normally, but are unable to walk. Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder, meaning that the symptoms remain stable and do not get better or worse over time. Currently, there is no cure.

What causes it?

Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal development in the brain or damage to the brain. The brain damage that causes it can happen before, during or within a few years after birth. Brain damage that occurs before or during birth, which is called congenital cerebral palsy, makes up about 80 percent of cases.

Although cerebral palsy can be caused by gene mutations or infections, it can also be caused by medical malpractice occurring before or during the birth process. Some of the most common medical errors that can cause the disorder are:
-Mistakes using medical tools or equipment during delivery, such as forceps or vacuums
-Failure to monitor fetal heart rate during labor or delivery
-Failure to diagnose or treat infections that can cause cerebral palsy, such as meningitis
-Failure to recognize or respond to signs of fetal distress
-Failure or unnecessary delay in performing a caesarian section when it is medically necessary
-Failure to identify or treat conditions that cause a depravation of oxygen in the baby's brain such as a prolapsed umbilical cord.

What are my legal rights?

Pennsylvania law requires doctors and medical staff to exhibit a certain minimum standard of competence when carrying out their duties. If their actions fail to meet this minimum standard, the law considers those actions to be medical malpractice. If medical malpractice causes cerebral palsy to develop, those affected have the legal right to seek compensation to pay for their child's lifetime of care and to help overcome the life-long difficulties the child will face.

If your child has developed cerebral palsy as a result of a medical error, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. An attorney can advise you of your legal options and protect your right to compensation.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Damage caused by TBI can linger for years

2013-03-13

Damage caused by TBI can linger for years Article provided by The Hirsch Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.jonhirschlaw.com Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common problem across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million Americans suffer a TBI each year. The medical community has long known about the short-term brain damage that TBIs can cause. However, a recent study suggests that the brain injury caused by TBIs can last much longer than previously thought. Researchers at the University of South Florida ...

Proposal may affect Nebraska child custody determinations

2013-03-13

Proposal may affect Nebraska child custody determinations Article provided by Vacanti Shattuck Visit us at http://www.cvhslaw.com In February, a Nebraska lawmaker introduced two bills to the Judicial Committee that could change how courts award child custody. The proposed changes are meant to equalize the amount of time that separated parents spend with their children. In a divorce, child custody is one of the most contentious issues. Often one parent receives a greater share of the time with the child or sole physical custody. This parent's home is usually where ...

Financial pitfalls faced by women post-divorce

2013-03-13

Financial pitfalls faced by women post-divorce Article provided by The Law Office of Thomas V. Sassone, P.C. Visit us at http://www.tvslawpc.com Statistically, women have the harder time financially after a divorce than men. A study conducted by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University has found that on average, a man will see an approximate 10 percent increase in his standard of living post-divorce, but a woman will experience a 27 percent decrease. Experts attribute the disparity to the possibility that many women are not involved with finances during ...

Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law

2013-03-13

Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law Article provided by Shanks Law Firm Visit us at http://www.shankslaw.net The dangers that distracted drivers pose to other motorists on our nation's roadways has received a lot of attention in the press lately, and for good reason. After all, common sense tells us that taking our eyes off the road is a dangerous behavior that dramatically increases the risk of a car accident. Unfortunately, Iowa drivers are not immune to such behavior. As a result, the Iowa legislature has proposed toughening its laws against ...

2013 tax changes may spell confusion for small business owners

2013-03-13

2013 tax changes may spell confusion for small business owners Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com After a no small amount of last-minute scrambling to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, Congress recently passed a number of changes to the federal tax code. Some of these changes, both good and bad, could have a significant impact on small business owners. While the potential for increased tax liability under the new plan is a major concern for many small business owners, some say the real challenge will be keeping ...

Tax payment plan vs. tax settlement: What's the difference?

2013-03-13

Tax payment plan vs. tax settlement: What's the difference? Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com Many serious tax problems stem from a simple and relatively common situation: being unable to pay the amount due to the IRS. What many people who find themselves in this situation do not realize, however, is that being unable to afford a tax payment is not necessarily what lands a person in hot water with the IRS. Instead, it is how these individuals choose to deal with the situation -- or not deal with it -- that ...

Personal bankruptcy options: liquidation vs. reorganization

2013-03-13

Personal bankruptcy options: liquidation vs. reorganization Article provided by Purrazzella & Purrazzella, P.A. Visit us at http://www.purrlaw.com When financial difficulties turn from bad to worse and people fear they may never be able to catch up on their overdue bills, many turn to bankruptcy as a way to make a fresh financial start. While most people have heard of bankruptcy, many are unaware of how the process works and how it can benefit people who are struggling with unmanageable debt. What is bankruptcy? Bankruptcy is a legal procedure that helps ...

New technologies lead to new dangers on our nation's highways

2013-03-13

New technologies lead to new dangers on our nation's highways Article provided by Noel M. Ferris Visit us at http://www.noelmferris.net Over the past decade, cell phones have become an essential tool for people in nearly every walk of life. While these devices definitely have their benefits, they are also responsible for the emergence of a significant threat on our nation's highways: distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,092 people were killed and an additional 419,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents ...

Rhode Island divorce: basic family law considerations

2013-03-13

Rhode Island divorce: basic family law considerations Article provided by Law Office of Hoopis & Hoopis Visit us at http://www.hoopisandhoopis.com When a couple plans to divorce in Rhode Island, the parties must address several legal topics that go beyond the relationship, itself. For example, litigants must assess property division, child custody and visitation, child support and other similar issues if they are applicable to the end of the marriage. Jurisdiction The first step in the process concerns jurisdiction. In Rhode Island, divorce proceedings ...

Guilty until proven innocent?

2013-03-13

Guilty until proven innocent? Article provided by Kenneth L. Baritz & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.baritzlaw.com In the 2002 movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise's character, police Chief John Anderton, leads Washington D.C.'s "Pre-crime" unit that uses a trio of gifted humans ("Pre-cogs") to see the future and prevent crime before it actually happens. The Pre-cogs are trusted so implicitly in the year 2054 A.D. that future criminals are punished for crimes they supposedly would have committed before being stopped by police. While ...

Center for Open Science awarded grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to preserve and safeguard publicly funded scientific data

Two new studies from Schneider Electric and the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability reveal 95 barriers and 50 risks slowing decarbonization in the building sector

Medical errors can lead to cerebral palsy

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: