A Chicago couple is suing a Puerto Rico hospital for the severe birth defects and untimely death of their daughter, according to Injury Lawyer News on May 20.
Their child was born with cerebral palsy, among a number of other defects, allegedly due to the poor medical care received during birth.
The mother was sent to the hospital on July 3, 2013 due to high blood pressure, the first time this was recorded during her prenatal check-ups. At 10:40 p.m. she was induced, given Cytotec, and told she needed constant monitoring by medical staff. She reported not being monitored until 1:00 a.m. and was again left for several hours after that.
Between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., the fetus showed signs of distress with uterine hyperstimulation and tachysytole. The Cesarean section was administered at 2:00 p.m. that day, although medical standards of protocol dictate this measure should have been taken long before.
The baby was transferred to a hospital in San Juan later that night without proper care. There was strong evidence of severe neurological problems at this point. She was released from the hospital on January 2, 2014 and placed in a home monitor. The baby passed away on August 11, 2014 from septic shock, respiratory failure, and hypoxia related to birth injuries.
Medical negligence during delivery is a common cause of cerebral palsy in infants. At the Driscoll Firm, we believe that medical professionals should be held accountable for the injuries they cause their patients. To learn more about how our cerebral palsy and birth injury attorneys can help you, please call (800) 900-7704 today.
A birth is considered full-term if it occurred between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation. If a baby is born before the beginning of the 37th week of pregnancy, he or she is considered a premature baby. Because premature babies didn’t have enough time to mature inside the mother’s womb, they are vulnerable to different health conditions, some of them life-long, such as cerebral palsy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children born before the start of 32nd week of pregnancy are at the highest risk of developing cerebral palsy. Some experts believe preterm babies are at highest risk of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a type of brain damage involving the brain’s white matter, or the area of the brain that transports nerve impulses to the other areas of the brain. PVL is considered a major factor in the development of cerebral palsy.
Apart from pre-term birth, babies can also be at risk of cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice. Failure to conduct a C-section when necessary or a negligently performed delivery may all increase the risk of CP among babies. To learn more about taking legal action against the negligent medical practitioner involved, speak with our team at the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today.
Although many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by the negligent actions of a medical practitioner, there is also the possibility that a child will develop cerebral palsy due to an non-medical accident early in life. However, just as it is possible to seek compensation through a suit filed against a medical professional, those who have a loved one suffering from cerebral palsy are also eligible to file a suit against any negligent parties who may be responsible.
When a child’s brain suffers from lack of oxygen or trauma, they may be at risk for developing cerebral palsy. The most common accidents that impose a risk for cerebral palsy include the following:
- Blunt head trauma
- Near drowning
- Asphyxiation
- Car accidents
- Abuse
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your child’s accident, if someone else is to blame, a talented lawyer of Driscoll Firm can help you hold them accountable. For more information on pursuing legal action against non-medical causes of cerebral palsy, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.
Some children with severe cases of cerebral palsy need to undergo surgery to relieve painful muscle spasms, reduce the risk of injury, and improve range of motion. Surgical procedures are primarily done to improve a patient’s safety and promote a higher quality of life. But, when done negligently, surgeries may further aggravate the patient’s medical condition and, tragically, may sometimes even result in death.
Unfortunately, unjustifiable medical errors are not rare. In the U.S., mistakes you make think are impossible to make in surgery happen regularly. This could mean that medical items are left behind in a patient’s body, or the surgeon may even perform the wrong procedure.
If you believe your child’s condition has been aggravated because of negligent medical care, or if medical malpractice has caused your child to develop cerebral palsy, consider taking legal action by consulting with our attorneys at the Driscoll Firm. You may call us at (800) 900-7704 for a free case assessment today.