Cerebral Palsy is a disorder or movement, muscle tone, or posture caused by injury to the brain before or during birth. Cerebral Palsy can cause a baby to have difficulty reaching milestones, such as sitting up, walking, and swallowing food.
According to the nonprofit organization, United Cerebral Palsy, about 1 in 10,000 babies born per year in the United States are affected by Cerebral Palsy. Although technological advances assist doctors and hospitals in providing safe deliveries, many avoidable birth injuries causing Cerebral Palsy to occur happen during the perinatal period.
Some causes of Cerebral Palsy include:
- Failure to diagnose maternal infection: Certain maternal infections can be passed on to the fetus causing injury. Examples of an infection that can cause injury are: Group B strep, inflammatory pelvic disease, and herpes.
- Failure to perform a Cesarean section: Medical providers failing to monitor, recognize and address fetal distress via Cesarean section can cause a baby to lose oxygen supply, causing damage to the brain.
- Improper use of birth injury tools: Sometimes, the improper use of forceps and vacuums during delivery can cause permanent brain damage to the baby.
Cerebral Palsy is not curable. The greater the severity of disability, the more assistance someone with Cerebral Palsy may need with activities of daily living throughout their lives.
If your child or someone you know has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, you may be entitled to damages. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can help assist you in determining whether you have a possible lawsuit. Contact the Law Office of Scott D. Hughes for a consultation at no cost to you.