Erb’s Palsy lawsuit filed against federal hospital

Parents of a child born with Erb’s Palsy filed a lawsuit naming the United States of America as the culprit behind the medical negligence that led to their son’s birth injuries. The lawsuit is seeking $12 million in damages after the federally-managed Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. committed negligence during the mother’s pregnancy and delivery.

The mother of the child was diagnosed with Type II diabetes at the age of 11 and was at a heightened risk of gestational diabetes due to her small stature and above average weight gain during pregnancy. Labor was induced at 38 weeks when she weighed 200 pounds at 4’8’’ tall.

The delivery of the baby showed the possibility of severe metabolic acidosis caused by lack of oxygen during delivery. The baby weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces after birth in comparison to the 7 pounds 12 ounces the pre-birth sonogram showed.

The child was in a NICU center for 26 days, frequently experiencing seizures among other health issues. The plaintiffs claim that the medical staff was not following the standard protocol during birth. This situation may have been avoided through a C-section rather than vaginal delivery.

The parents are seeking $10 million in damages for the ongoing medical treatment of their son and $2 million for the pain and suffering that the family is experiencing.

It is devastating when your child is injured due to poorly trained or negligent medical staff. If your baby was born with cerebral or Erb’s palsy, contact the birth injury attorneys at the Driscoll Firm. Our compassionate and experienced attorneys are prepared to find compensation for the damages you sustained. Call (800) 900-7704 today for more information about how we can help you.


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.


Couple files medical negligence lawsuit over birth defects

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.


Premature babies have higher risk of cerebral palsy

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.


Changes in Bone Density Due to Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy, often caused by complications during birth, can create a number of serious consequences and disabilities for the rest of a child’s life, including mental health and neurological problems, malnutrition, lung disease, and osteoarthritis. Additionally, the child’s bone density may be affected, causing bone deformities, irregular growth, and difficulty walking. Affected children may also experience frequent bone fractures, even with only mild trauma.

Causes of Bone Density Changes and Osteoporosis

Changes in bone density may occur in cerebral palsy patients for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Low intake of calcium and other nutrients due to difficulties chewing or swallowing
  • Abnormal vitamin D metabolism due to lack of sunlight exposure
  • Immobility, causing lack of normal growth and bone development

There are certain precautions you can take to avoid the complications associated with decreased bone density or osteoporosis.

  • Include 10-15 minutes of sun exposure in daily routine, without sunscreen
  • Incorporate vitamin C and D intake into normal meals
  • Incorporate weight-bearing exercises

Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

Oftentimes, cerebral palsy is caused by medical malpractice during the childbirth process. When this happens, the skilled birth injury lawyers of the Driscoll Firm are here to help you fight for compensation that covers all past and future costs of cerebral palsy. Please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 to learn more about taking action against those responsible.


Symptoms and Signs of Erb’s Palsy

At any point during labor and delivery, even the slightest of missteps on part of a medical professional may potentially cause a child to develop Erb’s Palsy. As the result of damage to the child’s brachial plexus—a bundle of nerves in the upper arm and shoulder—individuals living with Erb’s Palsy often require substantial medical treatment in order to restore flexibility and strength back to the affected arm.

Some of the early warning signs that parents of children with Erb’s Palsy first observe include the following issues with one of the child’s arm at birth:

  •  A lack of movement
  • A lack or response to touch
  • Rigidity of the arm held against the body
  • Inability to grip with one hand

Should Erb’s Palsy not be promptly diagnosed and treated, a child may suffer from the following long-term symptoms that are associated with Erb’s Palsy:

  •  Numbness of the affected arm
  • Weakness of the affected arm
  • Paralysis of the affected arm
  • Muscle atrophy in the affected arm

While symptoms may be successfully mitigated by dedicated physical therapy and surgical procedure, many children continue to struggle with the effects of Erb’s Palsy for the entirety of their lives.

If your child is found to suffer from Erb’s Palsy, you should consult with one of the birth injury attorneys at the Driscoll Firm to learn more about your legal options moving forward. If a negligent medical practitioner is found to be responsible, you may pursue financial compensation that covers medical expenses and the cost of continued treatment. To discuss the particular circumstances that you believe contributed to your child’s Erb’s Palsy, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.


Selective dorsal rhizotomy and its risks

One primary complication of cerebral palsy (CP) is muscle tightness and spasticity in one or both legs. Although several of such cases can be relieved through physical and occupational therapy, some cases of leg tightness and spasticity might be severe, resulting in a compromised range of movements.

For CP children with severe spasticity in the legs, some doctors perform selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) to relieve muscle tightness and improve range. It consists of cutting the thin skin over the lower part of the spinal cord. The nerve connecting to the spinal cord that causes muscle tightness of the legs will then be cut to relieve the symptom.

Sadly, cerebral palsy is often the effect of negligent medical care during the birthing process. If you believe your child’s condition developed as the result of a careless or reckless medical professional, the attorneys of the Driscoll Firm might be able to help. Call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today to learn more about pursuing financial compensation from the people or parties responsible.


Study says some cases of cerebral palsy might be genetic

A recently conducted study by the University of Adelaide-based Australian Collaborative Cerebral Palsy Research Group has found a strong link between the likelihood of developing cerebral palsy and genetic mutation, Medical Express reported on February 12.

The study found out that at least 14% of cerebral palsy cases have been a result of genetic mutation, contrary to what is believed that only up to 1% of cerebral palsy cases have been associated with genetic architecture. The study further showed that cerebral palsy share similar genetic structure as those of other neurological disorders.

This finding, which was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, hopes to change the approach on how medical professionals diagnose and manage cerebral palsy.

Although genetic predisposition may be greater than previously thought, medical malpractice is still the most common cause of cerebral palsy in the country. If you believe negligent medical care has been the cause of your child’s cerebral palsy, speak with an attorney at the Driscoll Firm to learn about the possibility of filing a claim against the party involved. Call us at (800) 900-7704 to discuss your legal options today.

 


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