Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorney
Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy
Do you or your family have a child with cerebral palsy?
Do you know cerebral palsy can be caused by medical negligence or mistakes by doctors and hospitals?
Cerebral palsy, also referred to as CP, is a term used to describe a group of chronic
conditions effecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage
to one or more areas of the brain usually occurring during fetal development;
perinatally, i.e., before, during, or shortly after birth; or during infancy.
These disorders are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves.
Instead, damage to motor areas in the brain disrupt the brain’s ability to adequately
control movement and posture as well as brain function.
Cerebral palsy can be caused by a brain injury during the birthing process.
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is one cause of cerebral palsy. It can mean that the fetus
is deprived of oxygen prior to delivery, during the labor and delivery process or immediately
subsequent to delivery. Often times, this is a preventible cause of cerebral palsy because of
the failure or negligence of the medical providers, i.e., doctors, hospitals, and/or nurses
and midwives. These medical providers may negligently failed to timely intervene to prevent
devastating brain injury when the fetus is suffering from a lack of oxygen.
Brain injury is caused by hypoxia, which is simply the lack of oxygen to the brain
of the fetus. The damage is permanent and irreversible. Sometimes this condition is not
diagnosed immediately. A major form of cerebral palsy is spastic quadriplegia or spastic paraplegia, which means that the muscles are stiffly and permanently contracted either in two limbs or all
four limbs. The result of this condition is often permanent, cognitive damage
which may include profound retardation. Other symptoms may include sensory damage to the
eyes and ears. These children can also have learning disabilities and will require treatment
of their muscular disorders and will require specialized education.
Cerebral palsy may also develop in the first few years of life from such childhood conditions
such as jaundice, bacterial meningitis, or viral encephalitis.
Doctors may negligently fail to detect and treat these conditions in a timely fashion
resulting in cerebral palsy.
Children who are afflicted with cerebral palsy require constant specialized care
for their entire lives. Parents of cerebral palsy children suffer hardships in caring
for these children. The cost of care for a child afflicted with cerebral palsy is catastrophic
and can often cost many millions of dollars. Often these children will not be able to work and thus will suffer a life time of loss of earning capacity.
Your rights concerning filing a claim for a child afflicted with cerebral palsy
should be explored with an attorney experienced in handling cerebral palsy cases.
Depending on the state where the child was born, you may bring an action even as
late as when the child becomes an adult. To protect your rights, you should seek a well
qualified and experienced attorney in the handling of cerebral palsy cases.
The attorneys, nurses and staff of Nurenberg Paris have the experience to handle a complex
cerebral palsy brain injury case. Working with the best medical experts in the country,
we can evaluate your claim free of charge. When medical mistakes happen, you need a legal
team that understands the medical and emotional difficulties your family is struggling with.
We will represent you to obtain the benefits your family deserves.
Nurenberg Paris...there is no substitute for experience.
Justice for the Injured...Since 1928.