Common Physician Errors Causing Cerebral Palsy

Hi:

I'm Boruch Fishman and welcome to another edition of Close Up. TodayI am going to be talking about common medical mistakes that can cause Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a general diagnostic classification referring to a class of neurological injuries to newbornsthat sometimes occur at or around the time of childbirth. Most Cerebral Palsy injuries result from insufficient oxygen delivery to the infant, during the birth process; although other problems, such as severe jaundice, can also cause Cerebral Palsy.

Shockingly, Cerebral Palsy advocacy groups believe that most cases of Cerebral Palsy are avoidable. The disease is cruel because a few seconds of neglect at or around the time of childbirth can lead to a lifetime of crippling misery for the child.

When the condition is caused by medical negligence, the family has the right to claim damages from the hospital and or medical personnel involved in the treatment. A number of lawyers specialize in Cerebral Palsy malpractice and provide free consultations to victims and their families.

While all medical malpractice related suits have a statute of limitations, which limits the amount of time during which the victim can to go to court, because Cerebral Palsy affects infants who are too young to represent themselves, the time constraints are different. In Maryland, for example, while every child has the right to bring a medical malpractice suit to court until the age of 21, if the child suffers from a form of cerebral palsy that affects the brain or has caused developmental problems then the child has an unlimited amount of time to bring his case before the court.
If you or your child is suffering from Cerebral Palsy, and you would like to know the condition was the result of medical {mistake|negligence|error, compare this list of the most common medical mistakes that cause Cerebral Palsy to the story of your birth or your child's birth.

These are some of the medical mistakes that occur before childbirth:

• Failure to properly treat high blood pressure or toxemia in the mother.
  
• Failure to order a C-section if the baby is high birth weight or if there are other medical contraindications to a vaginal birth.
  
• Failure to recognize fetal compromise and respond appropriately
  
• Failure to terminate the pregnancy if so indicated

These are medical mistakes that can occur during the childbirth:

• Failure to diagnose a the presence of a prolapsed umbilical cord. In this condition, the cord wraps around the baby subsequent pressure on the cord causes lack of necessary oxygen delivery to the fetal brain,
  
• Failure to recognize and properly treat fetal compromise during delivery,
  
• Leaving the child in the birth canal too long, resulting in lack of oxygen delivery to the brain,
  
• Inappropriate use of the vacuum extractor
  
• Improper use of forceps,

These are medical errors that can occur after delivery:

• Failure to recognize seizures and properly treat seizures after delivery,
  
• Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice in a timely manner,
  
• Failure to diagnose and appropriately treat meningitis in a newborn
  
• Failure of the doctor or staff to properly monitor the newborn's vital signs.

If you believe any of these errors may have occurred during your child's birth or during your own birth, you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer who specializes in Cerebral Palsy malpractice. He will listen to your story and make a determination if, in his opinion, you have a valid medical malpractice claim

Well that wraps it up for another episode of Close Up. I'm Boruch Fishman, have a great day!