Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Cerebral palsy affects approximately one to three out of every one thousand children born. Cerebral palsy is an abnormality of motor function and postural tone that is acquired at an early age, even before birth. Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy usually show in the first year of life. This abnormality in the motor system is the result of brain lesions that are non-progressive. The motor system of the body provides the ability to move and control movements. A brain lesion is any abnormality of brain structure or function. A non-progressive lesion does not produce ongoing degeneration of the brain. The brain lesion is the result of a one-time brain injury, it will not occur again. Whatever the brain damage that occurred at the time of the injury is the extent of damage for the rest of the child's life.

Cerebral palsy is not always straightforward, and everything from the prognosis to the diagnosis and treatment can be varied and complex. Cerebral palsy will not get worse as the child gets older, but it may cause a variety of related problems causing a cerebral palsy child to continue to deteriorate in terms of developmental and motor skills as he or she gets older. Therefore, it is wise to seek legal expert advice as to how receive compensation that will cover long-term medical and nursing care.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Acquired cerebral palsy: This accounts for up to twenty percent of young sufferers, and is where the disorder is acquired after birth. Acquired cerebral palsy may be caused by brain damage or brain infections very early in life, bacterial meningitis, or head injury.

Congenital cerebral palsy: Congenital cerebral palsy is more common. It can take months to be detected, and is usually caused by damage to motor areas in the brain through a variety of sources. Congenital cerebral palsy can occur in a number of ways, including infections or damage caused during pregnancy, labor, or during the delivery of the child. Also, if the infant is jaundiced when born, and the condition is left untreated, the brain can incur damage resulting in cerebral palsy.

Medical Mistakes

Unfortunately, medical mistakes are the cause of thousands of cerebral palsy and brain injury cases. Doctors, medical personnel and hospitals sometimes make mistakes during delivery. The following are just a few of the mistakes made during delivery that have caused children to be born with cerebral palsy:

1. Leaving the child in the birth canal too long causing a lack of oxygen to the brain
2. Failure to recognize and treat seizures following delivery
3. Failure to detect a prolapsed cord (the umbilical cord can wrap around the child's neck, cutting off oxygen to the brain)
4. Excessive use of vacuum extraction
5. Improper use of forceps
6. Failure to perform a cesarean section in the presence of fetal distress
7. Not responding to changes in the fetal heart rate
8. Failure to plan a C-section (a high birth weight infant could compromise normal, spontaneous, vaginal delivery)
9. Failure to respond to the mothers changing conditions, such as high blood pressure or toxemia
10. Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice
11. Failure to timely diagnose and treat meningitis

The doctors and nurses caring for the expectant mother and unborn child are responsible for providing safe and effective care before, during, and after birth. When proper procedure is not followed, and the standard of care is broken, permanent brain damage to the unborn child can occur. The following are indicators that a medical mistake may have caused your child's cerebral palsy:

1. Emergency delivery with forceps, vacuum extraction, or cesarean section:
2. The infant required resuscitation (CPR) after birth.
3. Following delivery, the baby was transferred to a different hospital, or spent time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).
4. The child had seizures immediately after birth, or within the first 3-4 days of life.
5. The newborn required special testing after birth, such as an MRI, or brain scan.
6. The infant required oxygen to facilitate breathing after birth.

Medical Malpractice Lawyer Pennsylvania

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition where the body movements and muscle coordination of the infant are impaired due to brain damage. Our cerebral palsy lawyers handle complex medical malpractice cases where the attending doctor mishandled the delivery and caused preventable brain damage to the newborn.

The parents of the child may recover compensation for the injuries sustained by the infant. With the help of an experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer, the family may recover the optimum financial compensation available under the law.

Our experienced civil litigation lawyers fight on behalf of families whose child suffers from cerebral palsy caused by a medical error. The attorneys at the Lassen Law Firm understand the position a family can be in and know what it takes to secure the best outcome possible. At the Lassen Law Firm, we represent the interests of families in claims against hospitals, obstetricians, and other medical professionals. We provide sensitive legal counsel to parents throughout Pennsylvania who need justice and compensation in delivery room negligence lawsuits. If you need expert legal representation, please call our medical malpractice attorneys at the Lassen Law Firm. Contact our Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys at the Lassen Law Firm today.

The Lassen Law Firm only deducts a 29% contingency fee, not the standard 45% like other firms. We serve ALL of Pennsylvania. We can sign you up over the phone and start working on your case today.

Stop Searching. Start Calling. 215-510-6755.

Authored by: Christian Lassen