Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders that affect the muscle control of those afflicted. Damage to the brain during pregnancy, the birth process, or shortly after birth causes this form of disability, and it has lifelong implications. While not every case of cerebral palsy is preventable, some are, and the underlying cause is often medical malpractice.
If your child has cerebral palsy that may be linked to your doctor or medical team’s professional negligence, you need trusted legal guidance in your corner. Reach out to an experienced St. Louis cerebral palsy lawyer at Zevan Murphy, LLC today.
Our firm is recognized as a leader in complex malpractice litigation, with a long-standing reputation for handling these cases with both skill and precision. Let our birth injury attorneys assist you with your case today.
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or the abnormal development of the brain, and it is sometimes the result of medical error during pregnancy or labor and delivery. While anyone in any profession can make a mistake, doctors owe their patients a considerable duty of care.
Medical professionals must take the same safety precautions that their peers would under similar circumstances. This means not taking actions that reasonable medical professionals with the same level of training would not, and taking those actions that reasonable medical professionals would. If you believe your doctor did not take appropriate safety measures during the birth of your child, resulting in cerebral palsy, talk to our St. Louis attorneys.
There are several primary causes of cerebral palsy, and our St. Louis lawyers can review your case to determine what exactly caused your child’s condition.
Fetal monitoring plays a critical role in delivering healthy babies. Doctors who fail to pay adequate attention, to miss critical warning signs of maternal complications or fetal distress, or to make well-considered decisions in response, increase the risk of cerebral palsy.
When fetal monitoring indicates signs of distress, the medical professionals in attendance must make well-informed decisions quickly. Sometimes, this means performing a C-section to prevent the newborn from experiencing prolonged oxygen deprivation. Any hesitation to take the necessary actions can result in serious birth injuries like cerebral palsy.
There is a wide range of medical instruments that help deliver babies safely. However, when medical professionals use these instruments incorrectly or when they do not need them but use them anyway, those actions can lead to harm. For example, using vacuum extractors or forceps with too much force or failing to position them appropriately can cause a brain injury.
Medical professionals often use medication to induce labor and move the delivery process safely forward. However, using the wrong drug or the wrong dosage or failing to time the drug delivery process correctly can lead to adverse health outcomes, including cerebral palsy.
It is difficult to overstate the immensity of loss that accompanies a birth injury like cerebral palsy. In your cerebral palsy claim, our formidable St. Louis attorneys will leave no stone unturned in our focused efforts to clearly define your child’s complete losses. Common losses in claims include the following:
Having our injury lawyers on your side is the best way to maximize your compensation.
If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy may have been caused by medical malpractice, help is available. A compassionate St. Louis cerebral palsy lawyer at Zevan Murphy, LLC has the experience to guide challenging claims toward optimal outcomes, and we are here for you.
Learn more about what our attorneys can do to help by contacting us online or calling our firm today.