What is Cerebral Palsy?
Two out of every 1,000 children born in the United States today have some form of the developmental disability known as cerebral palsy. This disability—a chronic and usually permanent neurological disorder—is caused by damage to the brain before or during birth, or within the first several years of a child’s life.
In some cases, cerebral palsy is a completely preventable condition brought on by the malpractice or negligence of a healthcare professional. The fact that a child’s cerebral palsy was preventable almost always adds to a family’s extensive emotional and financial distress, not to mention the physical and psychological suffering of the child.
Was My Child's Cerebral Palsy Preventable?
Brain injury to babies during delivery is often caused by factors beyond the control of the medical professional. However, an error in judgment or an act of negligence by the medical team that delivered the baby may also cause cerebral palsy.
Your child’s cerebral palsy may have been preventable if he/she required:
· An emergency delivery using forceps, vacuum extraction, or caesarean section
· Resuscitation after birth
· Oxygen to facilitate breathing after birth
Cerebral Palsy and Medical Malpractice
Errors in medical treatment that can result in a baby developing cerebral palsy usually involve a medical professional’s failure to diagnose, detect, and/or treat—in a timely manner—a problem during delivery, including:
· Conditions in the mother, such as urinary tract or placental infections
· Conditions that may lead to hypoxia, such as the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck or excessively long stay in the birth canal
· Poor or problematic vital signs
· Seizures in the baby
· Conditions which require immediate caesarean section
Types of Cerebral Palsy
If you think your child’s condition was caused by medical malpractice or negligence, an experienced lawyer can evaluate your case and determine your eligibility to receive compensation to help cover the costs associated with treatment.
At Perey Law Group, PLLC our lawyers have extensive experience handling birth injury cases. We understand the emotional and financial devastation many families suffer as a result of preventable medical mistakes. Let us help you. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced lawyer who can answer your questions and explain your legal options.
Please fill out the form below to contact one of our experienced attorneys.
Perey Law Group, PLLC
1606 8th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 443-7600
Fax: (206) 443-4785