Medical malpractice generally results from a breach of duty on the part of a healthcare professional – Physicians and medical staff have an obligation to provide their patients with a certain level of care and failure to do so is considered negligence. In a labor and delivery setting, medical negligence can have particularly devastating effects for the mother and child. One such effect is cerebral palsy.

 

The Effects of Cerebral Palsy Malpractice

Cerebral palsy malpractice can result in significant damages for the injured child and his/her family – damages that are physical, emotional and financial. In fact, the financial burden of cerebral palsy malpractice is enough to overwhelm most families. Treatment costs can total hundreds of thousands, even up to a million or more, over the course of an individual’s life.

 

When medical malpractice causes cerebral palsy in a child, parents have a legal right to sue the responsible doctor, nurse or other liable party(s) for damages such as:

 

• Medical expenses
  
• Loss of future earning capacity
  
• Pain and suffering

 

Is Cerebral Palsy Malpractice to Blame?

IIt takes medical and legal experts to determine whether or not malpractice has caused a child to develop cerebral palsy, and you should always have your case evaluated if any of the following occurred during or shortly after labor and delivery:

 

• your child suffered oxygen deprivation – as a result of fetal distress or prolapsed umbilical cord (in which
• the cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck)
  
• an emergency c-section was performed
  
• your child developed jaundice, which was not diagnosed or treated in a timely manner
  
• your child developed an infection like meningitis, which was not recognized or treated quickly enough
  
• there was improper use of vacuum extraction or forceps
  
• your child suffered seizures or needed to be resuscitated after birth
  
• your child required oxygen and/or specialized care following birth

 

Any of these, especially lack of oxygen to the baby, can cause permanent brain damage and cerebral palsy. If you have concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding your child’s birth, contact the cerebral palsy malpractice lawyers at Burke & Eisner today for a free claim evaluation.

 

Our medical attorneys have extensive experience with cerebral palsy malpractice cases, having obtained millions of dollars in settlements for our clients and their families. We will be glad to answer questions about your possible cerebral palsy malpractice claim and inform you of your legal options.

 

Three ways to Contact Us:

    --  Fill out the Contact Us form in the Upper Right part of this page.

    --  Use the Contact Us form located on the Instant Answer Page

    --  Call us:  1-800-838-0800

 

See Also:

    * What is Cerebral Palsy?
    * Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

Cerebral Palsy Law Blog