Medical Malpractice Can Cause Cerebral Palsy
An unlimited number and type of birth injuries can occur as a result of a delivery room doctor’s carelessness or negligence. One of the most common birth injuries is cerebral palsy.
According to United Cerebral Palsy, an estimated 764,000 children and adults have some form of cerebral palsy, and nearly 8,000 newborns are diagnosed with the disease every year. Spastic cerebral palsy—which is one of the most common variations of the disease—stiffens and permanently contracts muscles and significantly reduces motor functions. In addition, those who suffer from the disease may develop speech impediments, vision or hearing problems, difficulty with bladder or bowel control, learning disabilities, difficulty breathing, and trouble swallowing.
If you or someone you love was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you suspect medical negligence, contact a knowledgeable Florida birth injury attorney. You can trust that our attorneys have the ability to powerfully advocate on your behalf and will fight to ensure that you or your child will obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
Parties Responsible for Cerebral Palsy and Other Birth Injuries
While some birth injuries occur naturally and involve pregnancy complications or difficult labor, most birth injuries occur when a health care provider acts in a reckless, careless, or negligent manner in the delivery room. The responsible health care provider or providers are usually delivery room doctors (that is, obstetricians) and delivery room nurses or other hospital personnel.
Medical Causes of Cerebral Palsy and Other Birth Injuries
Negligence from delivery room health care providers usually results in bad consequences. When these people perform their duties poorly, serious birth injuries and birth defects can occur. These birth injuries and defects usually occur as a result of:
- Delayed oxygen to the baby’s body
- Delayed C-section or other necessary medical procedures
- Improper use of forceps or other delivery room tools and equipment
- Administering incorrect or improper delivery room drugs to the mother
- Use of improper delivery room techniques
- Inadequate attention paid by delivery room staff to patients
- Failure to follow proper delivery room protocols and other medical procedures
Investigate Every Case of Cerebral Palsy
Medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, and delivery are not always apparent to people without legal training. As a result, if your child has developed cerebral palsy, speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will thoroughly review the facts of your case and determine whether any evidence supports your medical malpractice claim. In some cases, an expert may need to determine whether doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals involved in your pregnancy, labor, and delivery deviated from the accepted standard of care.
Contact a Gainesville Medical Malpractice Attorney Today to Discuss Your Case
Birth injuries such as cerebral palsy can devastate everyone involved. Our Florida birth injury attorneys can represent you and your child throughout your case and help you obtain monetary compensation. Call Meldon Law to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys or send us an email through our online contact form.
