What are the most common causes of cerebral palsy?

Since cerebral palsy may be caused by the abnormal development of the brain or by a brain injury that occurs before, during, or immediately after birth, the disorder may potentially be attributed to a diverse range of causes, including the following:

  • Infection
  • Lack of oxygen
  • Premature birth
  • Contusion

Bearing this in mind, cerebral palsy may be directly caused by any medical professional who fails to maintain established standards of safety and procedure at any point during and after the birth of a child.

If you believe that the malpractice of a medical professional caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you should speak with one of the cerebral palsy attorneys at the Driscoll Firm to begin assessing what legal claim you might have to compensation. To speak with a member of our legal team, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.


Umbilical cord milking decreases the risk of cerebral palsy – study

A recent study suggests umbilical cord milking reduces the risk of brain injuries, including cerebral palsy, among pre-term babies delivered by C-section, Medical Daily reported on June 30.

The research, which involved 197 infants delivered either vaginally or by C-section before the 32nd week of pregnancy, aimed to compare the benefits between umbilical cord milking, or the process of squeezing placental blood down the umbilical cord and into the baby, and delayed clamping, or delayed cutting of the cord for 30 to 60 seconds.

The results revealed milking was more effective in increasing the flow of blood, improving blood pressure and boosting hemoglobin count among pre-term C-section babies. However, no significant difference was observed among preterm babies delivered naturally.

Some cases of cerebral palsy have been found to be a result of negligent medical care. If your child has developed this life-long condition due to a reckless doctor or untrained medical staff, our legal team at the Driscoll Firm is here to help you. Call us at (800) 900-7704 and have your case assessed for free.


Mother sues University of Chicago Medical Center for malpractice

A woman is claiming that the University of Chicago Medical Center is responsible for her child developing cerebral palsy as a fetus due to medical malpractice. She filed the complaint on June 29 in the Cook County Circuit Court.

Latoya Blanchard first visited the hospital when she was seven weeks pregnant. She informed the doctor at the Maternal Fetal Medicine and Genetics Department of the University of Chicago Medical Center that her previous pregnancy had ended in fetal death at 22 weeks.

Blanchard returned at 20 weeks gestation for her first fetal ultrasound. The monitor showed a fetal heart rate of 143 and the mother’s cervix was dilated to 48 millimeters. A month later, Blanchard returned again 6 centimeters dilated and complaining of back pain. An ultrasound revealed a footling breach for which she was given antibiotics, betamethasone, and magnesium.

A few days later, the baby was born at 1 lb. 4 oz. He sustained a grade four ventricular hemorrhage and neonatal seizures which are known for causing developmental delays and cerebral palsy. The lawsuit claims that the medical staff was negligent as it failed to administer progesterone to the mother and failed to offer the mother cervical cerclage to prevent a pre-term delivery.

If your child was born with cerebral palsy or developed the condition due to negligent medical professionals, contact the Driscoll Firm today. Our skilled birth injury attorneys want to find you the compensation and peace of mind that you and your family need. Our cerebral palsy lawyers want to hear from you. Call us today at (800) 305-9800 for more information about how we can help you.


Jury awards $38M in damages in Depakote case

The team at The Driscoll Firm would like to congratulate our co-counsel, Williams Kherkher Hart Boundas, on achieving a $38,000,000 verdict for a catastrophically injured child and her grandparents. A St. Louis jury awarded $23 million in punitive damages on top of $15 million in actual damages to the 12-year-old girl, who was born with spina bifida after her mother took the anti-seizure drug Depakote while pregnant. Spina bifida occurs when a child’s spinal column fails to close all the way, which can lead to both physical and intellectual disabilities.

The jury decided that Abbott Labs did not do enough to warn doctors about the potential birth defects that children could suffer if their mothers took Depakote while pregnant. According to arguments presented by the plaintiff’s attorneys, Abbot failed to adequately present the potential risks associated with Depakote, instead making it seem as though Depakote was no more dangerous than other anti-epileptic drugs.

According to a 2010 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Depakote is tied to an increased risk of a number of different birth defects, one of which is spina bifida.

Court documents from this landmark case state that because of these dangers, doctors should prescribe every available alternative to pregnant women before prescribing Depakote.


Allergan appeals multi-million dollar Botox verdict

California-based Botox maker Allergan has appealed a $6.75 million verdict in a case filed by a couple who claims Botox treatment caused their son to suffer from seizures, the Burlington Free Press reported on June 9.

The drug maker has filed their appeal to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals several weeks after a judge in Vermont backed the jury’s decision to award the damages. Lori and Kevin Drake said their son had no history of seizures prior to Botox treatments, which were recommended by a Burlington doctor in 2010 and 2012 to treat their son’s cerebral palsy leg spasms. The couple claims the drug company failed to fully orient the doctor about the Botox treatment’s health risks.

The couple added that the treatment was off-label, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never approved Botox for treatment of muscle spasm in kids.

Errors in cerebral palsy treatment may aggravate your loved one’s medical condition, and may even cause serious, even life-threatening medical complications. If you believe your loved one’s condition was caused by medical negligence, our legal team at the Driscoll Firm might be able to help you file a lawsuit against the party involved. Call us at (800) 900-7704 to learn more about your legal options.


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