What can I do if I suspect medical malpractice caused my child’s cerebral palsy?

Newborns and mothers have a right to be cared for properly during childbirth and the first moments of life. If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy could have been prevented by competent medical care, you should consider speaking with an attorney who can help you begin exploring what legal action you may now be eligible to pursue against the responsible party. A lawyer can evaluate your legal standing and then help you take the legal action necessary to pursue financial compensation for all the pain and suffering your child has been forced to endure.

If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of some form of medical malpractice, you need to consult with a cerebral palsy attorney at the Driscoll Firm about what legal claim to compensation you may now be eligible to pursue against your doctor. To discuss the particulars of your claim with one of our attorneys directly, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.


10-year-old awarded 2 million euros for brain injury at birth

Lee Gibson from Ireland was awarded 2 million euros by the High Court when it was found that his cerebral palsy and other health conditions were a direct result of negligent care during and after his birth. Gibson experienced a number of injuries to his brain from lack of oxygen and various untreated infections at St. Finbarr’s Hospital.

Gibson’s mother believes her son would not have experienced trauma had he been delivered earlier. Due to the complexity of the case, the settlement was concluded without an admission of liability from the hospital that facilitated Gibson’s birth. It was determined there were a number of factors that contributed to Gibson’s medical condition and the circumstances under which he was delivered, increasing the complexity of the trial.

The money awarded in the settlement will go towards paying for Gibson’s past and future medical bills. This will include further treatment for his cerebral palsy and other permanent effects of his birth injuries. His mother says he is learning to communicate more effectively and progressing in school regardless of his disabilities.

Cerebral palsy is a serious medical condition that an individual must live with for the entirety of his or her life. If you believe that your child suffered birth injuries that caused their cerebral or Erb’s palsy, please contact the birth injury attorneys at the Driscoll Firm. Our dedicated and skilled attorneys believe you should not be burdened with the extensive and costly medical bills that arise from treating your child’s condition when it was caused by a negligent physician. Please call (800) 900-7704 today to speak with an attorney.


Associative conditions of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused from injuries to the brain or brain malformation during fetal development. The neurological condition impairs motor functions. Unlike other brain damage, cerebral palsy does not progress over time. However, cerebral palsy often comes with associative conditions that can worsen the original impairments by further limiting body functions.

The following list includes the most common categories of cerebral palsy conditions:

  • Primary condition: direct result of cerebral palsy, such as poor motor control and muscle tone
  • Secondary condition: result of primary conditions, such as inability to chew and breathing difficulties
  • Associative conditions: conditions not caused by the brain injury, such as hearing impairment
  • Co-mitigating factors: completely unassociated health conditions

Cerebral palsy is unique in each child. The existence of several associative conditions may worsen the primary effects of the disease, making it more difficult to live with the impairments. Without proper care, cerebral palsy can form new associative conditions that require additional medical expenses and treatment.

Living with cerebral palsy can be expensive, painful, and frustrating. If your loved one was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to a birth injury, contact the Driscoll Firm. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys may help you and your family pursue compensation for the pain and suffering and expenses that resulted from negligent medical staff who may have contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy. Call us today at (800) 900-7704 for more information.


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.


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.


How cerebral palsy is classified

Classifying the type and severity of cerebral palsy (CP) is important to providing the patient the best quality of life possible for his or her condition. For parents, CP categories enable them to understand the medical needs of their child, while school administrators are able to comprehensively grasp the child’s learning abilities.

There are a variety of ways that CP is grouped. Here are a few of them:

  • Severity – A child’s CP can be categorized into mild, moderate, severe, or no CP (CP was acquired after the brain’s development was completed, therefore is instead classified under the circumstances that caused it- such as traumatic brain injury)
  • Topographical distribution – CP is grouped based on the affected areas of the body. Paraplegia, for instance, is a type of cerebral palsy that affects both legs
  • Motor function – CP is categorized based on how the condition affects the body’s motor function

If you believe your child’s CP has resulted from medical malpractice, the legal team at the Driscoll Firm might be able to help you seek the compensation your family needs. Call us at (800) 900-7704 for a free assessment of your case.


Anticonvulsants could trigger or aggravate eating disorder – study

Anticonvulsants such as topiramate are sometimes prescribed to cerebral palsy patients suffering from seizures. A recent study published in Pediatrics stated that the anticonvulsant topiramate may trigger or aggravate an eating disorder among patients using it, including those with cerebral palsy, according to a report published in Medscape.

The study recorded seven girls aged 13 to 18 who had developed eating disorders or had their eating disorder worsen after taking topiramate. Researchers believe that because of the drug’s appetite-suppressant effects, physicians and parents should be aware of the risk of weight loss when taking the drug.

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that varies in severity and can be treated in many different ways, including prescription drugs and physical therapy. The effectiveness of drugs will be a consistent concern as you raise your child with cerebral palsy, but you should not be held responsible for the costs of this medical treatment. The negligent doctor or medical facility that contributed to your child’s birth injury may be held financially accountable for any current and future treatment for your child.

Learn more about taking action for the funds your child needs by calling the Driscoll Firm at (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.


When surgeons commit mistakes in CP treatment

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.


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.


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