Cerebral Palsy and Birth Events That May Cause It

Although most babies are born without issue, a doctor’s mistake in the delivery room could have severe consequences for a child’s quality of life. Our experience tells us these mistakes occur all too often and could lead to significant mental and physical disorders, such as cerebral palsy.

About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a physical disorder affecting the brain’s motor cortex, which controls fine motor skills and coordination. People suffering from the disorder often experience issues affecting balance, movement and posture. An estimated 500,000 people in the United States alone suffer from the disorder, which causes a lifetime of complications that require costly medical care.

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common birth injuries, but the symptoms may not present themselves until the child begins developing. Many parents will notice their child is not hitting key development milestones, such as crawling or walking, on time.

Other signs of cerebral palsy may include:

• General lack of muscle coordination
• Favoring one side of the body, particularly in the hands or legs
• Difficulty performing specific or precise movements
• Difficulty walking
• Tremors or other spastic movements

Causes and Birth Events

There is no single cause of cerebral palsy. A number of complications may occur during pregnancy or delivery that could result in a diagnosis. Doctors are ultimately responsible for making educated decisions and acting on their decisions in order to protect the health of the mother and her child.

In the event that a doctor makes a delayed or uninformed decision and it leads to a developmental disorder, there are grounds for the family to make a birth injury case. Here are a few examples of birth events that could lead to a cerebral palsy diagnosis:

• Delayed birth
• Lack of oxygen flow to the brain, such as during a C-section
• Improper use of force during delivery, such as a vacuum

Many of these could be considered forms of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice refers to instances in which a physician’s negligence or carelessness causes them to deviate from the standard of care and ultimately cause harm to the patient. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to evaluate the conditions of your child’s birth and determine whether or not the standard of care was followed.