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.
Botox maker Allergan is facing a federal lawsuit after the parents of a Vermont woman who died last year sued the company, alleging that the Botox treatment caused their daughter’s death, the Star Tribune reported on April 14.
Parents of Mandy Fortuna, 21, accused the Botox manufacturer of the failure to warn about the product’s danger. According to the lawsuit, Mandy started receiving Botox treatments in 2007, aggravating her health condition. On September 25, 2014, Mandy was found dead as her father tried to wake her up for school.
Mandy’s parents learned about the Botox’s risk after reading about a similar case against Allergan. In that lawsuit, a jury awarded $6.75 million to the family of a seven-year-old child who developed epilepsy after undergoing the same treatment by the same doctor.
Allergan, on the other hand, refused to comment on the issue.
Cerebral palsy treatments are supposed to relieve CP symptoms and promote a better quality of life. Unfortunately, defective CP treatments can tremendously damage a person’s health. If you believe your child’s CP has resulted from another party’s negligence, or if you believe your child’s CP has been aggravated due to medical negligence, a lawyer at the Driscoll Firm may look into your situation to see if it entitles you to file a claim. Call us at (800) 900-7704 today to begin taking action.
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.
After seven long years of legal battle, a district court in Colorado finally awarded millions of dollars to a family who suffered from a medical malpractice incident after staff at the Children’s Hospital Colorado administered an incorrect dosage to their four-year-old daughter, resulting in lifelong brain damage and cerebral palsy, the Gazette reported on April 4.
The Arapahoe County District Court awarded $17.8 million, possibly the largest medical malpractice verdict handled out in Colorado, to Naomi Pressey, now seven years of age. In February 2008, Naomi was given the wrong dose of prostaglandin in preparation for a procedure to treat a common congenital heart defect. The error caused her to suffer from cerebral palsy, severe motor skill impairment, significant intellectual disability and cognitive impairment.
Children’s Hospital Colorado said it plans to appeal the verdict.
Medication error is considered among the most common medical malpractice causes of cerebral palsy in the country. To learn more about taking legal action against a negligent medical facility or practitioner that caused your child to suffer from this life-long condition, consult with a lawyer at the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today.
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.
Though many children who develop cerebral palsy have been injured by some form of medical malpractice, a number of children sustain injuries that lead to cerebral palsy far removed from the medical environment. With that in mind, virtually any serious head trauma may potentially lead to cerebral palsy during the first few years of a child’s life. If your child has developed cerebral palsy, the birth injury lawyers at the Driscoll Firm can help you determine how this happened, and may help you pursue financial compensation for treatment expenses and any other financial losses.
To discuss the particulars circumstances that led to your child’s development of cerebral palsy with one of our birth injury lawyers, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 to learn more about how we can help you.
A study by the University of Copenhagen found that inducing labor among women at 37 weeks could possibly reduce the risk of birth asphyxia, stillbirth, and cerebral palsy, according to a report by The Independent on Wednesday, March 4.
Labor induction refers to the use of medications or other techniques to stimulate uterine contraction, and is usually performed only after 42 weeks, when the baby is overdue. However, a recent study, which evaluated 770,936 births over the period of 13 years, revealed that proactively inducing labor at 37 weeks reduced the rate of stillborn births from 1.9% to 1% per 1,000 births. Additionally, peripheral nerve injuries, such as Erb’s palsy, were reduced by 43%, while the rate of cerebral palsy-causing birth asphyxia was down by 23%.
Over the years, countless cases of cerebral palsy have been caused by negligent medical care. If you believe your baby’s cerebral palsy has been a result of a negligent medical practitioner, we at Driscoll Firm can help you seek the compensation you believe you deserve. Call us at (800) 900-7704 for legal advice today.
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.
Physical therapy usually begins right after a pediatrician has diagnosed a child with cerebral palsy (CP). Physical therapy is a rehabilitative approach that has been found to significantly improve the lives of many individuals with CP. It involves training to strengthen the muscles, improve balance and flexibility, develop coordination, and promote physical function.
The primary goals of physical therapy treatment among CP patients are to maximize their independence and improve their community involvement by overcoming their physical limitations and focusing on their strengths. This would entail cooperation and constant communication among all the individuals involved: the patient, their parents or caretakers, their pediatricians, and their team of trained and licensed physical therapists.
The financial burden of cerebral palsy treatment can be very taxing and especially troubling for those whose CP has been a result of negligent medical malpractice. If your baby’s CP has been a result of medical malpractice, do not hesitate to take legal action against the parties involved. We at the Driscoll Firm might be able to help you. Call us at (800) 900-7704 for a free assessment of your case today.
