Signs of Cerebral Palsy Malpractice

The Duffy & Duffy lawyers who focus on cerebral palsy malpractice know that new parents have many questions about the health of their children, especially if they suspect something is wrong. Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage, usually occurring before or during delivery. It may have been caused by cerebral palsy malpractice.

There are a range of cerebral palsy symptoms. Most are not apparent immediately at birth and during early infancy. They become more apparent as your child’s nervous system develops. Symptoms may be subtle and only noticeable to medical professionals or they may be severe, obvious to parents and caretakers, such as:

• Delayed development. Normal milestones are not met: Head control, rolling over, reaching out with one hand, sitting alone, crawling, and walking are delayed
• Infantile reflexes fail to dissipate within 6 months after birth
• Showing preference for either the right or left hand before 18 months
• Stiff and spastic muscle tone or extremely relaxed, floppy, muscle tone
• Jerky movements or slow, writhing movements
• Shortened bone structure on the affected side
• Severe stiffening of the joints
• Mental retardation
• Seizures
• Speech impairment
• Impaired swallowing
• Hearing loss
• Vision problems, including strabismus (the turning of one eye)
• Dental problems (more cavities than usual)
• Bladder and bowel control problems

Cerebral Palsy Medical Malpractice – the Causes

You may be trying to understand what causes Cerebral palsy. How can medical malpractice cause cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional fails to follow standard medical procedures. If your child tragically suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of a medical professional’s failure to follow such procedures, you have a cause of action for medical malpractice. This means that you and your child can receive financial compensation for damages and the expenses you will incur in the future because of their medical mistake.

Failure to Follow Medical Standards of Care

If your medical professional failed to properly treat you during your pregnancy and delivery or failed to properly treat your baby, cerebral palsy may result. Anything that causes damage to your baby’s brain such as infection, lack of oxygen, and genetic malformation may result in cerebral palsy.

If you had a cesarean delivery after many hours of attempting vaginal delivery, your baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, your baby didn’t immediately cry upon birth, your baby had to be cared for in the NICU, your baby scored low on the Apgar test, or a medical professional indicated in any way that something should have been done differently, medical malpractice may have occurred. You should seek the advice of Duffy & Duffy as cerebral palsy lawyers, available for an initial consultation at no cost to you.

Duffy & Duffy has had years of experience and success bringing cerebral palsy malpractice cases on behalf of its clients. We are well prepared to answer your questions, address your concerns, and guide you through the legal system to get the financial compensation to which you and your child may be entitled.

We will take on the investigation, legal system, medical research, expert witness evaluation, and insurance company discussions on your behalf. Let us help you with your cerebral palsy malpractice case so that you can focus on what’s really important – your child.