Cerebral Palsy May Trace To Medical Negligence During Childbirth
Caring for a child with cerebral palsy has its challenges and heartbreaks. The financial hardships can be overwhelming if your son or daughter needs significant medical support or assistive care over their lifetime.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is commonly caused by medical errors during labor and delivery. Because CP often goes undiagnosed until months later when the child shows developmental delays, parents may not make the connection to difficulties at childbirth.
The medical malpractice lawyers of Park Woody Vaughan, P.C., know how to connect those dots to hold doctors and hospitals accountable. We have recovered compensation for Indiana families reeling from the economic fallout and personal struggles of raising a CP child.
Life Effects Of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a form of brain injury that primarily affects the child’s motor functions. It can range from mild, manageable impairments to profound disability requiring round-the-clock care and supervision. CP may manifest as:
- Spastic cerebral palsy — Muscle contraction and short, jerky motion
- Athetoid cerebral palsy — Random and uncontrolled movements in the limbs and face
- Ataxic cerebral palsy — Problems with balance, coordination and depth perception
- Intellectual disabilities and cognitive problems
- Seizures (co-occurring epilepsy)
- Developmental and medical complications of the hips, spine, teeth, lungs, skin, internal organs
The symptoms are different from child to child, depending on the part of the brain affected, and may change or worsen over time.
Establishing Medical Causation And Damages
Cerebral palsy is often — but not always — associated with birth trauma or complications of pregnancy. For example, if the umbilical cord is squeezed when the baby gets stuck in the birth canal, the oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage in a matter of minutes. Use of forceps during delivery can cause cranial damage or brain bleeds that result in CP. Undiagnosed infections such as meningitis can cause cerebral palsy.
When medical malpractice is suspected, the attorneys of Park Woody Vaughan, P.C., know how to uncover the truth. We work with experts in obstetric medicine (OB/GYN) to review the medical records of prenatal care, childbirth and post-partum care for telltale signs of negligence by the doctors and nurses. We then work closely with parents and their pediatricians to document the degree of disability and the projected care needs of the child.
Ask Your Questions In A Free Consultation
Birth injury cases are highly technical and hard to win, but our legal team has the right experience and the resolve to pursue justice when a tragic CP diagnosis could have been prevented. There is no charge for the case evaluation and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you and your child.
Park Woody Vaughan, P.C., is conveniently located at the corner of Delware and Ohio in downtown Indianapolis, easily accessible by public transportation. Free parking is available. We can arrange evening and weekend appointments and home or hospital visits by request. Call today at 317-231-1100 or contact us online.