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Celebral Palsy :: Birth Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Damage, Erb's Palsy and Eminent Domain Law Practice in Puerto Rico.
Celebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is the general term used for a set of chronic neurological disorders that hinder muscle control. While the causes of cerebral palsy are myriad and often unpreventable, the condition can also be caused by preventable factors such as medical malpractice . For instance, brain injury – ranging from inadequate oxygen supply to physical trauma -- sustained before, during, or shortly after birth is one of the more common causes of malpractice-related cerebral palsy.
Those who suffer from cerebral palsy are often permanently afflicted with slurred speech, limited mobility, poor muscle control, and learning disabilities. Even more, the emotional and monetary costs associated with a lifetime of cerebral palsy treatment can be devastating. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the average lifetime cost of cerebral palsy treatments to be just under $1 million.
If you or a loved one suffers from cerebral palsy and feel that it may have been caused by a physician or other healthcare professional’s mistake, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your losses and suffering. Please contact us today to speak with a qualified medical malpractice lawyer who can inform you of your legal rights and options.
Cerebral Palsy and Medical Malpractice
Common medical errors that could result in cerebral palsy include:
- Failure to recognize and treat seizures
- Failure to diagnose and treat maternal urinary tract infections, placental infections, or other conditions in the mother that can cause cerebral palsy
- Failure to detect or correct conditions that may lead to hypoxia, (umbilical cord around the neck, failure to monitor the baby’s vital signs, or excessively long stay in the birth canal)
- Failure to perform a timely Caesarean when conditions call for it
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms & Treatment
Doctors diagnose cerebral palsy with specialized tests, including reflex and motor skill assessments. The early signs of cerebral palsy generally appear before the child has reached the age of three. Symptoms sometimes change over time, but cerebral palsy does not worsen. Some of the early cerebral palsy warning signs are:
- Slow in learning to walk and crawl
- Poor motor control
- Awkward gait
- Propensity to spasm
- Abnormal speech
Although there is currently no cure for cerebral palsy, various treatments are aimed at reducing symptoms to enhance the sufferer’s overall quality of life. For example, surgical procedures, occupational therapy, and drug therapy are all common cerebral palsy treatments.
If your child has cerebral palsy that may have resulted from medical malpractice, you need to ensure your legal rights are protected. Please contact us for a consultation with a qualified medical malpractice attorney who can answer all your questions, thoroughly examine your case, and help you determine your best course of action.