The Devastating Consequences of Cerebral Palsy

When an infant is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the family must then cope with the devastating effects.

Cerebral palsy is one of the most serious consequences of birth injuries and medical malpractice. The condition is caused by the lack of oxygen supply to the baby’s brain during delivery. Cerebral palsy resulting from medical malpractice can have devastating consequences for the baby and the family.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a collective term for numerous neurological disorders that cause physical disabilities related to muscle coordination and body movement. There are several events that can cause cerebral palsy; however, in context of medical malpractice, it is caused by a lack of oxygen to a baby’s brain during delivery. In the United States, 2-4 out of every 1,000 babies born are affected by cerebral palsy. It is a non-progressive disease, which means, it does not get worse over time.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Most kids who suffer from cerebral palsy have it since birth, and it normally happens because of a lack of oxygen supply to the body or the brain, birth trauma, or premature delivery. These conditions may occur because of delivery mistakes or medical practice. Common ways in which medical malpractice may lead to cerebral palsy include:

• Failure to identify and treat infections such as meningitis in the mother.
• Failure to monitor fetal heart rate.
• Failure to diagnose and act upon prolapsed umbilical cord.
• Failure to order a cesarean section in case the baby is too large for a vaginal delivery.
• Delay in ordering or performing a C-section.
• Negligence in the use of tools such as forceps and vacuum during delivery.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Spastic cerebral palsy: Spastic cerebral palsy accounts for almost 80 percent of the total cases. It is characterized by difficulty moving and stiffness because of tightness in the muscles. Patients of spastic cerebral palsy find it hard to move from one place to another and find it difficult to hold on to or let go of objects.

Athetoid cerebral palsy: Athetoid cerebral palsy accounts for 10 percent of the cerebral palsy cases. It is characterized by involuntary movement of muscles, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, and inability to maintain posture.

Ataxic cerebral palsy: Ataxic cerebral palsy accounts for another 10 percent of the cases. It is characterized by a distorted sense of balance, difficulty in coordinating muscle movements, depth perception problems, and tremors.

St. Louis Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical malpractice cases involving delivery mistakes and birth injuries can be complicated both from a medical and legal standpoint, and usually involve complicated questions of liability and technical treatment issues. It is important to seek help from an experienced St. Louis medical malpractice lawyer.

Contact Zevan and Davidson Law Firm at (314) 588-7200 for a free consultation.