A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that there has been no significant decrease in the number of children born with cerebral palsy.

Statistics showed that 2.2 out of 1,000 children born in 2002 were diagnosed with congenital cerebral palsy. This represents only a slight rise from the 1.9 out of 1,000 children born in 1985 who were diagnosed with the same condition. The same research also showed that no significant trends appeared when considering infants born with spastic cerebral palsy.

While the infant survival rate has improved with advances in medicine and care, the prevalence of cerebral palsy diagnoses has still not gone down. The authors of the research, including Kim Van Naarden Braun of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, wrote that “the absence of decline underscores the continued need for resources and support of children with CP and their families, as well as accelerated focus on understanding risk factors, targeting prevention strategies and reducing disparities.”

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of any medical malpractice during labor, please contact our brain injury lawyers at the Driscoll Firm today by calling (800) 900-7704 to learn how we may be able to help you pursue compensation you need to provide the care he or she needs.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent movement disorder that begins during early childhood. It is caused by damage to or the abnormal development of the area of the brain responsible for balance, posture, and movement. Cerebral Palsy can manifest in several different ways, including:

• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – a person with ataxic cerebral palsy suffer from poor muscle tone and poor; people with ataxic CP may appear shaky and unsteady
• Athetoid Cerebral Palsy – with athetoid cerebral palsy, some muscle tone may be too low and some may be too high; people with athetoid CP have a hard time staying in an upright position, and faces, arms, and the upper body can make random, involuntary gestures
• Spastic Cerebral Palsy – a person with spastic cerebral palsy usually suffers from muscle tone that is too high, resulting in stiff and jerky movements due to the tightness of the muscle tone; people with spastic CP have difficulty in moving to and from different positions or letting go of things in their hand
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy – occurs when the muscle tone is too low in some areas and too high in others

If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of negligence on the part of another party, do not hesitate to discuss your case with our dedicated, experienced team at The Driscoll Firm. Call us today at (800) 900-7704.

Spastic cerebral palsy is a condition in which increased muscle tone causes arms and legs to stiffen or become rigid. This type of cerebral palsy is usually a result of damage to the brain’s white matter or gray matter. It limits the full potential of the involved extremities because of the inability to systematize movements. People with spastic cerebral palsy may also suffer from impaired fine and gross motor coordination, muscle weakness, fatigability, and increased deep tendon reflexes. Spastic cerebral palsy may affect the body in a variety of ways:

• Hemiparesis – spasticity occurs on one side of the body
• Quadriparesis – spasticity occurs in all four limbs
• Spastic diplegia – spasticity occurs in both legs

If untreated, spastic cerebral palsy may lead to permanent limitation of joint movements.

Researchers have linked a number of causes to the occurrence of cerebral palsy; one such cause is doctor error during child birth. Infants who are injured or the victims of other forms of negligence during delivery can develop cerebral palsy that will last their entire lives. If you or your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of a medical professional’s negligence, contact the Driscoll Firm at (800) 900-7704 today.

Newborns and mothers have a right to be cared for properly during childbirth and the first moments of life. If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy could have been prevented by competent medical care, you should consider speaking with an attorney who can help you begin exploring what legal action you may now be eligible to pursue against the responsible party. A lawyer can evaluate your legal standing and then help you take the legal action necessary to pursue financial compensation for all the pain and suffering your child has been forced to endure.

If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of some form of medical malpractice, you need to consult with a cerebral palsy attorney at the Driscoll Firm about what legal claim to compensation you may now be eligible to pursue against your doctor. To discuss the particulars of your claim with one of our attorneys directly, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.

Lee Gibson from Ireland was awarded 2 million euros by the High Court when it was found that his cerebral palsy and other health conditions were a direct result of negligent care during and after his birth. Gibson experienced a number of injuries to his brain from lack of oxygen and various untreated infections at St. Finbarr’s Hospital.

Gibson’s mother believes her son would not have experienced trauma had he been delivered earlier. Due to the complexity of the case, the settlement was concluded without an admission of liability from the hospital that facilitated Gibson’s birth. It was determined there were a number of factors that contributed to Gibson’s medical condition and the circumstances under which he was delivered, increasing the complexity of the trial.

The money awarded in the settlement will go towards paying for Gibson’s past and future medical bills. This will include further treatment for his cerebral palsy and other permanent effects of his birth injuries. His mother says he is learning to communicate more effectively and progressing in school regardless of his disabilities.

Cerebral palsy is a serious medical condition that an individual must live with for the entirety of his or her life. If you believe that your child suffered birth injuries that caused their cerebral or Erb’s palsy, please contact the birth injury attorneys at the Driscoll Firm. Our dedicated and skilled attorneys believe you should not be burdened with the extensive and costly medical bills that arise from treating your child’s condition when it was caused by a negligent physician. Please call (800) 900-7704 today to speak with an attorney.

On October 3, Ian Matuszak of New York received his blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, according to news reports.

Professional athletes have commended his achievements, saying it would be impressive for anyone to accomplish this goal; however, Ian had to break through even more barriers in order to win this victory. The 20-year-old suffers from cerebral palsy and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer during his training.

These setbacks didn’t slow Matuszak down, though. According to one of his instructors, Dave Patton, Matuszak trained twice a week before his diagnosis and competed in tournaments at various levels. Another trainer and black-belt fighter, Tony Quagliata, said, “He doesn’t use anything for an excuse… This young man fights obstacles every day. Things we take for granted Ian would love to be able to do.”

Matuszak’s supporters have remarked that he is a great ambassador for Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

At Driscoll Firm, our cerebral palsy lawyers believe that our clients who suffer from this muscle disorder can achieve great things, just like Matuszak, and we strive to help them along that path. If you or a loved one suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of a medical professional’s actions, call us today at (800) 900-7704 to discuss how we may be able to help you and your family recover.

An Oklahoma toddler with cerebral palsy is being denied medical treatment from hundreds of doctors, leaving him with little to no options for care in his state.  After it was discovered that his parents are suing the doctor responsible for problems during his birth, the OU Physicians group, which has 600 doctors across Oklahoma, sent his parents a letter stating that he can no longer be treated by physicians within this network.

Henry Hale was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one. He is now three years old and his parents have been seeking legal damages for complications during birth for over a year. The family claims the physician that delivered their son did not provide the mother with the proper standard of care during labor and delivery. The Hales have filed a restraining order against OU Physicians and are seeking other medical specialists to treat their son. Unfortunately, it has been difficult to find treatment otherwise because most physicians in Oklahoma work under OU Physicians. Emergency medical care would not be denied to the family, however.

Mistreatment by medical professionals is an unacceptable event. If you believe that your child suffered birth injuries that led to his or her diagnosis of cerebral palsy, please contact the attorneys at the Driscoll Firm. Our experienced staff is prepared to defend your right to compensation for the pain and suffering your family experienced at the hands of your attending physician. For more information, call (800) 900-7704 today.

David Bysooa, a teenager with mild autism and cerebral palsy, was kicked out of an Air Mauritius flight after a complaint that he was not seated properly. The woman beside Bysooa complained that he was leaning towards her while the aircraft was still on the runway. The crew was unable to find and transfer Bysooa to another seat, and when he got upset, the airline kicked him out of the flight.
Bysooa was supposed to visit his grandparents, and his mother Vidulah said that he had traveled alone before. Mrs. Bysooa accused the airline of discrimination, and she brought the case to the Civil Aviation Authority.
The airline did not give Bysooa a refund for the missed trip and has even banned him from flying the airline. Air Mauritius defends their case and said that David’s presence had made for “a very uncomfortable atmosphere” and that “the decision was not taken lightly”.
Having a condition like cerebral palsy can cause life-long difficulties for those with the condition. While some cases of cerebral palsy result from health complications, but some are caused by someone else’s negligence. If you think someone is responsible for your child’s suffering, contact our lawyers at the Driscoll Firm for your legal representation needs. Call us today at (800) 900-7704.

A baby in Vancouver was at risk of additional serious medical problems when the government allegedly attempted to take her off of life support without her parents’ consent in August. The infant faces a number of severe birth injuries, including cerebral palsy; she is quickly recovering, however, and is now capable of breathing without a ventilator.

The parents claim that the Ministry of Children and Family Development tried to remove their daughter from the necessary life support system keeping her alive after birth. The child was born 25 weeks premature at just above one pound in weight. She now weighs 11 pounds and has not required life support for two weeks.

A court case was originally filed against the government for medical negligence. Since the original filing, the lawsuit has been amended to include a custody battle against the ministry which is keeping the child from being removed from the premises. The parents are also petitioning to use alternative methods for caring for their daughter, including the use of cannabis oil to help seizures.

Medical negligence is not uncommon when untrained or incompetent medical staff treat a pregnant woman and her baby. If your child suffered birth injuries or developed cerebral palsy, contact the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today to speak with an experienced attorney about your legal options.

David Mulligan, a cerebral palsy sufferer, requested to fly with his assistance dog, Willow, but his request was denied by the management of Virgin Australia. When making this request, Mulligan provided paperwork and accreditations from his doctor and a dog training association to further support his request and demonstrate his need for assistance. Unfortunately, Virgin Airlines denied and then approved his request, only to deny it once again in the end.

This forced Mulligan to take buses and trains in order to visit relatives living a long distance away, which could result in 22 total hours of travel. Eventually, his doctor reported that Mulligan was “no longer able to cope” with such long distance road and rail travel.

As a result, Mulligan brought the case to Federal Circuit Court in 2013. Now, after 5 years, Virgin has been ordered to pay him $10,000 in compensation after an appeal overturned the decisions of another judge who ruled in favor of Virgin.