A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can leave a family shocked, dismayed, and confused. Parents want to get their child the best medical care to help their child with cerebral palsy, and they may also be wondering about the cause of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that affects sensation, muscle control, head control, walking, muscle tone, coordination, balance and cognitive functioning. Like many birth injuries, cerebral palsy can occur through the fault of no one, but in some cases, cerebral palsy can be the result of medical negligence during childbirth.
Cerebral palsy is usually caused by damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle function, which can occur during pregnancy or during childbirth, if a doctor or healthcare provider fails to monitor and adequately address fetal distress. Cerebral palsy may also be caused by decreased blood flow to the baby’s brain, as well as the misuse of forceps or vacuum extraction.
Some of the possible causes of cerebral palsy include:
- Failure to adequately monitor the mother or baby before and during childbirth
- Failure to promptly address signs of fetal distress
- Failure to properly administer Pitocin
- Failure to perform a timely c-section when, necessary
- Infection during pregnancy
- Prolonged bleeding in baby’s brain after birth
Contact a Obstetrical Negligence Lawyer
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you are probably wondering what to do next. You may also wonder if the condition could have been prevented or if your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by obstetrical negligence or medical malpractice.
It is highly recommended that you first seek a second opinion to determine the accuracy of the diagnosis and to get additional information on the possible cause of the cerebral palsy.
You may also want to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer about a possible legal claim. At Cogan & Power, P.C., our Chicago birth injury attorneys understand that a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for your child can be a devastating and life-changing event. We can help you get the medical help that your child needs, and after conducting a factual inquiry, we can advise you of your legal rights and options.
If we determine that you have a valid medical malpractice claim, we will use our legal knowledge and skill to advocate on your behalf for maximum compensation. In fact, we have obtained a number of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in birth injury cases, including a record-breaking $7.65 million verdict in a case in which a baby suffered from cerebral palsy caused by the obstetrical negligence of a nurse who misread fetal heart monitor strips.
If you cannot come to our offices in downtown Chicago, we will come to you and, because we take cases on a contingency basis, you will not pay any fee unless we get you compensation.
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or suffered another birth injury, contact Cogan & Power at (312) 477-2500 to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable Chicago medical malpractice attorneys.