Cerebral palsy (CP) generally refers to a set of disorders affecting movement control due to injuries to the developing brain. According to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, 10,000 newborns are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year, and close to 800,000 Americans are living with this condition. Unfortunately, many of these cases are the result of negligence and medical malpractice.

To diagnose cerebral palsy, doctors may perform one or more of these tests:

• Electroencephalogram – A set of electrodes are attached to the scalp to check for epilepsy, which may indicate cerebral palsy in infants
• Physical examinations – Vision, hearing, and speech tests help detect impairments that may be associated with CP
• Brain scans – Cranial ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to check for any brain abnormalities, including CP.

If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by a medical professional’s negligence, a lawyer from The Driscoll Firm can help you file a lawsuit against the responsible party and seek much needed financial compensation. Call us today at (800) 305-9800 to learn more about pursuing such action.

A 17-year-old New York girl was recently awarded $103 million in her cerebral palsy lawsuit. The lawsuit stated that the girl developed cerebral palsy due to hospital negligence, and the jury sided with the plaintiff.

The girl’s mother, carrying twins, started contractions three months before her due date. The hospital staff failed to notice that her pains were in fact premature contractions until it was too late. The woman went into labor one week after entering the hospital and delivered twin girls.

One twin developed normally, but the other developed cerebral palsy. Seventeen years later, one of the twins is an independent teenager who has complete control of her mobility and cognitive functions, while the other requires constant care and attention. The teenager suffering from cerebral palsy is confined to a wheelchair and has numerous neurological problems. She chose to file a lawsuit against the hospital staff in order to acquire financial compensation to pay for her future needs regarding care.

If your child developed cerebral palsy as a result of a birth injury, you may be entitled to compensation to help with the medical bills. Please contact the cerebral palsy lawyers of The Driscoll Firm, P.C., by calling 800-305-9800 today for more information.

A couple residing in Kansas has filed a cerebral palsy lawsuit against the hospital in which their son was born as well as against two physicians who were involved in his birth. The lawsuit states that hospital staff negligence directly led to the couple’s child developing cerebral palsy.

In March 2010, the expectant mother entered the hospital in order to deliver her son. The physicians attempted to induce the woman but failed, so they conducted two different vacuum extraction procedures in order to remove the child from his mother’s womb.

These two procedures failed, so the doctors instead decided to pursue an emergency cesarean section. During the c-section, the mother’s uterus ruptured. The child was believed to have suffered a seizure during this time and was delivered with several birth injuries as a result.

Shortly after being born, the infant developed spastic quadriplegia, which is a serious form of cerebral palsy, and his parents believe that the negligence of the hospital staff directly led to this condition.

The cerebral palsy lawyers at the Driscoll Firm are pleased to announce that the Missouri Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling that placed a cap on the amount of damages that can be awarded to victims of medical malpractice.

The change was made after it was determined that placing a cap on damages was unconstitutional because it violated the victim’s right to trial by jury by not allowing the details of a case to determine the outcome.

To read further into the details  of this decision, click here.

In March 2010, an expectant mother in Baltimore was rushed to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in order to undergo an emergency caesarean section to deliver her son.

Two hours after arriving at the hospital, the woman had yet to undergo the emergency c-section. She claims that during that time delay, her son was not receiving the correct amount of oxygen to his brain. As a result, the delayed procedure caused the newborn to be born with several birth injuries, including cerebral palsy and a seizure condition.

Two years later, the young boy requires full-time care and attention in order to function. The parents of the young boy sued the hospital claiming that its negligence directly caused their son to suffer from this debilitating condition. A jury sided with the parents and awarded them $55 million for the current and future treatment of cerebral palsy.

Please contact the cerebral palsy birth injury lawyers of The Driscoll Firm, P.C., by calling 800-305-9800 if your child was born with cerebral palsy due to a preventable birth injury.

Children suffering from cerebral palsy may need adjusted diets in order to cope with the physical constraints of chewing and swallowing.

Cerebral palsy greatly affects the coordination of muscles and movement in an individual. Thus, children with this disorder may be malnourished due to the physical strain that is associated with eating a  meal.

It is important to focus on feeding children with cerebral palsy healthy, non-processed foods that have a high calorie count. The high calorie count is necessary due to the fact that these children may not eat as often as they should because of the discomfort. Foods such as avocados, bananas, and kale aid are nutritious, beneficial components of anyone’s diet, but they may be especially helpful for cerebral palsy patients as they are nutrient-rich and easy to eat.

Cerebral palsy is sometimes a preventable condition. If your child suffers from cerebral palsy due to a medical error, please contact the cerebral palsy lawyers of the Driscoll Firm, P.C., by calling 800-305-9800 today.