Cerebral Palsy Questions Answered

Cerebral Palsy (CP) often occurs when things have gone horribly wrong during childbirth or immediately thereafter. CP can forever alter the life of your loved one and your family.

We will aim to answer the following questions:

• What is Cerebral Palsy?
• What causes it and could it have been prevented?
• What are the long-term effects of Cerebral Palsy?
• How will your family be affected when a loved one has Cerebral Palsy?
• How can you get help when your child has CP?

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder caused by a brain injury or malformation. Simply put, Cerebral Palsy is caused by an injury or trauma to the brain or a malformation in the brain of a developing infant. Cerebral Palsy can be the result of this trauma or malformation while the mother is pregnant, during the birthing process or following childbirth.

The major effects of Cerebral Palsy are significant and life-altering. They may include:

• Impaired motor functioning, both gross motor and fine motor
• Breathing issues
• Spastic, weakened or unstable muscles
• Seizure disorders
• Inability to swallow and difficulties eating and drinking
• Vision or hearing issues
• Bladder and bowel control
• Lack of muscle tone
• Delayed intellectual development or lack of full intellectual development
• Inappropriate posture and related balance issues
• Poor or insufficient reflexes
• Slurred speech or delayed speech development

The severity of the Cerebral Palsy is dependent on how the baby’s brain was damaged or malformed, the extent of the damage, when this trauma occurred and the nature of the trauma.

In many cases, Cerebral Palsy is the result of brain cell death during the birthing process or trauma or infection shortly after birth. In these instances, medical malpractice may have occurred.

“I have seen Cerebral Palsy cases that are clearly results of medical neglect and malpractice. Parents may be so traumatized immediately after the birth trauma to their newborn child that they delay calling us. It is essential that we talk with parents as soon as is reasonably possible. Time is of the essence in these cases and we can often help in a way that makes a real difference to the family!” NAME OF ATTORNEY HERE

If your child was born with Cerebral Palsy, it is important to contact Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys right away. We will evaluate your case to determine if mistakes were made by medical staff, causing or contributing to the Cerebral Palsy.

What happens in childbirth or thereafter that can cause Cerebral Palsy?

Trauma during childbirth that causes sustained lack of oxygen to the brain is the major cause of Cerebral Palsy during childbirth. This happens because the birth is prolonged, there has been bleeding in the baby’s brain, a delay in initiating a Caesarean section occurs, the baby stays too long in the birth canal and is deprived of oxygen, the umbilical cord cuts off oxygen to the child or the child is weakened during the birth process. Often, brain lesions caused by the trauma, infection or even toxins form.

Head trauma during the birth is the primary cause of preventable Cerebral Palsy. This is present when the baby is a high birth weight or a low birth weight (even pre-term), when forceps are used, and when medical staff injure the brain trying to deliver the baby (especially when they fail to order a Caesarean Section). Placing undue pressure on the baby’s neck or head during the delivery causes significant trauma.

In all of the above cases, medical staff often fails to diagnosis the crisis, misdiagnoses the crisis or delays proper treatment, contributing to the birth trauma and the severity of the Cerebral Palsy. In addition, hospital personnel sometimes make mistakes during the critical hours after childbirth, not realizing that a baby is suffering and not ensuring that they are taking in adequate oxygen for continued, safe brain development.

Injuries during childbirth should be rare, but they are more common than you may believe. Even more upsetting, is that many childbirth injuries could have been prevented. Negligent medical staff often cause these serious, life-altering injuries.

How will Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy Affect Your Family?

You can expect that your child will need extra care, medical attention, therapeutic intervention and educational accommodations. Cerebral Palsy is not curable, but much help can be obtained so that your child can continue to grow and develop. In order to help your child, your family will need to manage his or her Cerebral Palsy through with interventions, including:

• Specialized medical care
• Professional therapy; including physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy
• Adaptive devices; walkers, wheelchairs
• Nutrition counseling
• Nursing care
• Educational diagnostics and psychological evaluation
• In-home care
• Loss of wages for parents who need to provide child care
• Adaptation of home environment if mobility issues demand accomodations for wheelchairs or walkers, for example.

Not all infants suffering from Cerebral Palsy are victims of medical malpractice. However, in cases where Cerebral Palsy was clearly caused by poor medical decisions and sub-standard treatment, Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys want to make sure that your extraordinary increased costs of care are compensated.

We want to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve to help your child continue to live their life, despite the difficulties that Cerebral Palsy presents. A child with Cerebral Palsy will always be loved and cherished. It’s our job to make sure that anybody who caused this trauma is held responsible and that your life is made easier.

Take Action

Calling Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys should be the first thing on your to-do list when your baby suffers a birth trauma. We understand your immediate needs, including getting appropriate medical care and paying medical fees. We also want to ensure that insurance companies and medical professionals meet your child’s future needs.

How Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys Help You

When you call Giroux Pappas Trial Attorneys, we evaluate your case fully to determine if medical malpractice is present. We tally up the extraordinary costs of caring for a child with special needs and we immediately advocate on your behalf so your family can start healing and focusing on your child and new life.

Generally medical negligence or malpractice cases such as these are contingency cases. This means that there is no cost to you for contacting our expert attorneys. You only pay attorney fees once the case is resolved in your favor and a percentage of that payment covers the attorney fees.

Your child’s future is in your hands. We practice pure law – no gimmicks, no games. Let us help you navigate this difficult situation.