Cerebral Palsy is among the most common causes of chronic disability in children. It is a disorder that impairs control of body movement. Its symptoms often include reduced muscle coordination, spastic or exaggerated type movements, muscle stiffness and gait/balance issues. Although cerebral palsy affects a person’s muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. It is caused by damage to the brain during development.
Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive brain disorder, meaning it does not continue to worsen over time, the symptoms of cerebral palsy can change throughout a person’s life for better or worse. The severity of the condition can range from a mild affect on balance and coordination to profound disabilities that may require lifelong treatment. Usually, the earlier a child begins treatment the better chance he/she will have in overcoming his/her disabilities.
No matter how severe A diagnosis or cerebral palsy forever changes your life and the life of your child. Upon learning of a serious birth injury it is common to worry about why the injury occurred and if it could have been avoided. This question may be the cause of great concern, and not knowing the answer can be a difficult burden to bear. Further, you are unlikely to get straight answers from your doctors who are afraid to point fingers or take the blame if mistakes were made.
What was the Cause of Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
If your child was born with cerebral palsy it is important to consult with a birth injury lawyer who can investigate the cause of the injury.
Cerebral palsy is most often caused by unavoidable delivery complications or gene mutations; however, this birth injury can also be a result of mistakes made in the delivery process by a medical doctor or nurse.
If your child was born with cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, you may be able to file a claim to seek compensation for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, and a loss of future earnings capacity against the doctor, nurse or hospital. This compensation is often desperately needed as the lifelong care for a child with cerebral palsy alone may cost in excess of $1 million.
Brent Wieand is an experienced personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia who serves clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If your child was born with cerebral palsy, birth injury lawyer in Philadelphia, PA Wieand may be able to help determine if it was caused by medical negligence. For a free legal consultation, call Brent Wieand at 1(888) 789-3161 or fill out the online form.
A Birth Injury Can be Caused by Medical Malpractice
The actions (or inaction) of your medical providers can cause a birth injury, such as cerebral palsy. This commonly occurs when the medical staff doesn’t recognize that the fetus is not receiving enough oxygen to the brain, or if they fail to properly intervene following fetal distress during labor. If your doctor does not live up to the standard of care consistent with what is expected in the medical community he/she may be held liable for malpractice. It is important that medical staff closely monitor the fetus for any indication of fetal distress during labor and delivery. Some tests which may indicate the fetus is in distress include doppler ultrasounds, fetal monitor strips, bio-physical profiles, stress tests and non-stress tests. These tests are then used by doctors to help identify potential problems, such as whether there is an adequate supply blood (oxygen) to the child. Your doctor must closely monitor these test results which can alert him/her to changes that require additional testing or actions. If your doctor fails to order the appropriate tests, closely monitor the results or take proper intervention following a change he/she may have committed malpractice.
While it may be tough to consider speaking with a medical malpractice attorney following a serious birth injury, it is usually the course of action. As the plaintiff, you have the burden to prove your case by the preponderance of the evidence in court. The longer you wait to seek legal advice the more difficult it may become to prove your case. It is in the interest of your child to promptly seek legal counsel before evidence goes missing or witnesses forget important facts or disappear.
If your child was born with cerebral palsy, contact Brent Wieand, a birth injury lawyer in Philadelphia, PA, today. Brent will investigate your claim to see if he can help you get justice for your child and recover compensation for medical bills and other losses he/she will endure. Don’t be a victim twice, call Brent today at 1(888) 789-3161.
