How Malpractice Can Result in Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is an overarching term for a large number of neurological disorders which are characterized by a hindering of body movement and muscle control. Cerebral palsy is an extremely serious, lifelong disorder that is one of the more devastating problems that can result from medical malpractice during labor and childbirth.
A lack of oxygen to an infant’s brain during labor is thought to be the primary way that malpractice can result in cerebral palsy, and the damage is permanent. Data from the Mayo Clinic indicates that in the U.S. and Europe, Cerebral Palsy occurs in approximately three out of every 1,000 births.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
There are many conditions which can result in a child being born with cerebral palsy, but when medical malpractice is a contributing factor, the common causes are usually the following:
- Errors in using invasive instruments such as a vacuum or forceps during delivery
- Failure to recognize that a baby is too large for a safe natural birth, and subsequent failure to plan a cesarean section
- Failure to diligently monitor the heart rate of the fetus for the duration of the birth
- Failure to effectively diagnose and treat serious infections, such as meningitis, in the mother during the pregnancy
- Waiting too long, or failing to perform, a cesarean section when the procedure is medically necessary
- Failure to recognize that the umbilical cord has become prolapsed
Negligence in any of these areas can result in a lifelong disability for an innocent child.
Contact Us
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy as a result of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for the years of treatment and care that will be necessary for your child’s health and well-being. Contact a skilled and experienced Pennsylvania cerebral palsy lawyer at Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today by calling 610-667-7511 to discuss the details of your case.