Brachial plexus injury refers to any damage in the brachial plexus, or the set of nerves that run across the neck and the shoulder region. Because brachial plexus is responsible in delivering electric signals to the entire upper limb, an injury to this network of nerves may affect muscle movement of one or both arms. Several types of brachial plexus injury can occur at birth. For instance, brachial plexus can be stretched or ruptured when a medical practitioner forcefully pulls the infant’s shoulder as they emerge from the birth canal.

To know if your child is suffering from brachial plexus injury, look for these common signs:

• One arm looks weak, or partially or totally paralyzed
• The affected arm seems to develop more slowly than the other
• The affected arm fails to respond to stimuli

Negligent actions of a medical professional may overwhelmingly harm your family. If you believe a birth injury has been a result of a medical malpractice, an attorney at Driscoll Firm may look into your family’s situation to see if it would be possible to seek financial restitution through legal means. Call us at (800) 900-7704 for a free assessment of your case today.

For over many years, Botox injection has been among the many treatment options for children suffering from cerebral palsy. It contains Botulinum toxin type A, a type of bacterial toxin that has proven to be effective in improving muscle movement among children with cerebral palsy.

Because cerebral palsy is associated with abnormal muscle contraction due to the brain’s defective stimulation of muscle nerves, Botulinum toxin type A restricts the muscles’ ability to receive nerve signals. Children with CP who suffer from dangerous muscle spasms and contractions might be able to benefit from this kind of treatment every 3-6 months.

However, Botox treatment can be especially expensive and possibly risky in some cases. If your child’s cerebral palsy was the result of a medical malpractice you should work to receive compensation from negligent parties. If you believe your child’s CP has been a result of another party’s negligence, consult our legal team at Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today.

While the symptoms of cerebral palsy may not be immediately apparent in a child, they will eventually begin to surface as an affected child matures. Should your child display any of the characteristic symptoms of cerebral palsy, however, it is highly advisable that you consult with your child’s pediatrician as soon as you can. Your child’s pediatrician may utilize one or more of the following procedures to more conclusively diagnose your child:

• EEG
• CT
• Blood test
• MRI
• Vision testing

If your child is formally diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the medical professionals responsible for his or her delivery may be liable for any resulting pain and suffering. To speak with one of the birth injury lawyers at the Driscoll Firm, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy may not be recognizable until a child is older despite that the condition typically develops before or during the birthing process. The symptoms of cerebral palsy will often not be immediately recognizable since many of these symptoms are related to physical or cognitive abilities that have not yet developed in newborns.

However, as a child ages and continues to mentally and physically develop, some of the symptoms of cerebral palsy will become increasingly apparent while others may only be discernible upon closer medical examination. Some of the most commonly attributed symptoms of cerebral palsy include:

• Bone deformities
• Joint deformities
• Spastic movements
• Muscle atrophy
• Difficulty speaking
• Agility problems
• Cognitive disabilities
• Seizures

Should you observe any of these symptoms in your child, it is highly advisable that you immediately seek a more comprehensive medical examination for your child so that a proper diagnosis may be made. If your child is indeed diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you and your doctor may then begin considering what treatment strategy will be best for your child.

Troublingly, the development of cerebral palsy can often be directly related to some form of medical malpractice. In such instances, any medical professional who is found to be responsible for your child’s cerebral palsy may be held financially liable for their malpractice. To discuss your legal options with one of the birth injury lawyers at the Driscoll Firm, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.

If your child was injured by a negligent medical professional during his or her birth, the physical and emotional effects are life-changing, and we understand that this situation can become difficult to bear. Unfortunately, in addition to the recovery your child and family must experience, high costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and pharmaceuticals are likely to quickly accumulate, creating a significant financial burden. Depending on your child’s injuries, these costs may be prolonged throughout his or her life. In the face of these daunting consequences of a birth injury, an experienced medical malpractice lawyer can stand by your side to fight for financial restitution from the negligent medical facility, doctor, nurse, or other party responsible.

A medical malpractice attorney at the Driscoll Firm, can help you anticipate the extent of current and future financial damages from your child’s birth injury. To discuss your options for legal recourse and pursuing financial compensation, call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.

Cerebral palsy is primarily characterized by abnormalities in muscle tone, movement and posture. These abnormalities, in turn, could affect the overall skeletal development of children with this condition.

There are various bone and joint deformities associated with cerebral palsy. For instance, too much muscle spasticity may leave the cartilage between the bones narrow, which results in tighter joint spaces. Increased muscle tension may also leave the shaft of the bones thin. Because of disparities in growth and movement, some bone structures may also grow unevenly. For instance, children with cerebral palsy might have a right leg evidently longer than their left. Decreased bone density can also be a result of poor nutrient intake due to difficulty in chewing or swallowing.

Unfortunately, cerebral palsy can sometimes be the result of a medical practitioner’s negligence before, during, or after delivery. If you believe your child’s life-long condition has been the result of another party’s inattention, a lawyer at the Driscoll Firm can help you determine your eligibility in seeking legal action. Call us at (800) 900-7704 today.

When a child has cerebral palsy, it is best to find out sooner rather than later. An early or timely diagnosis can ensure that a child receives the medical attention that he or she needs. Delaying the diagnosis puts much more strain on families than is necessary. A delayed diagnosis can leave the child untreated and suffering even more from this painful birth injury. In addition, delayed diagnosis can lead to secondary complications from CP when the proper medical attention is not given to the child. Moreover, families can face hefty medical bills when the diagnosis is delayed, as additional treatment costs associated with the effects of a delayed diagnosis add up.

If your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis was delayed due to medical negligence, you may be able to seek financial compensation to help pay for the extra costs of treating your child. An experienced lawyer at the Driscoll Firm can help you understand your family’s legal rights. Call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today to discuss your case.

Children with cerebral palsy are at higher risk of convulsions due to the brain’s inability to control its normal pattern of electrical activities. During convulsions, the muscles contract and relax repeatedly and uncontrollably. This causes the child’s body to shake, making them more prone to injuries and other more serious medical emergencies, such as a coma.

To manage these symptoms, doctors may prescribe anticonvulsants to help prevent the outburst of electrical signals that may trigger convulsion. It can also be used to shorten the length of the seizure, to lessen its occurrence, and to reduce its severity.

Taking care of a child with a life-long condition such as cerebral palsy requires life-long medical support and the continuous use of medications, such as anticonvulsants. Unfortunately, the medical costs brought about by all of these might be an added burden to some families. To see if your family’s situation qualifies for financial assistance from a negligent medical practitioner who may have caused your child’s condition, contact a cerebral palsy attorney at the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today.

Although cesarean delivery is usually performed as an emergency surgery during unforeseen, dangerous birth situations, doctors may plan a scheduled cesarean section if they believe the baby’s pre-natal conditions would make normal delivery more difficult, critical, and even life-threatening.

Mothers of breech babies, or babies whose position is not in a head down presentation, will most likely need c-section to prevent the risk of interfering with the baby’s oxygen supply at birth. Most breech babies can be detected at 37 weeks of pregnancy. Placental rupture, umbilical cord stricture, a low-lying placenta, and the presence of infection may also all be considered possible reasons for a cesarean delivery.

There are instances, however, when medical practitioners fail to properly detect the manifestations that prompt the need to plan for a cesarean delivery. This might eventually result to the infant being starved of oxygen at birth, which may ultimately lead to several health complications, including cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a life-long condition that can sadly be a complication of a medical practitioner’s failure or delay in performing c-section when necessary. To hold the responsible party accountable for your child’s medical condition, consult with a cerebral palsy attorney at the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 305-9800 today.

A study by Norwegian researchers published by The BMJ revealed the risk of cerebral palsy is increased if someone in the family was born with it, HealthDay News reported on July 15.

Although it is well known that lack of oxygen and exposure to infection during delivery can increase the risk of cerebral palsy, new research reveals there may also be a genetic link. The researchers analyzed extensive data covering the birth of more than 2 million Norwegians from 1967 to 2002. In families who had a child with cerebral palsy, there was a six to nine times increased risk of having a full sibling with the same condition. Parents affected with cerebral palsy are also 6.5 times at risk of delivering a child with the condition. Meanwhile, infants with an affected third degree relative (a first cousin, for instance) were 1.5 times at risk.

This research is important in expanding our knowledge about Cerebral Palsy and how it may be treated in the future. Unfortunately, many cases of this condition are caused by medical negligence during the delivery. If your loved one has developed cerebral palsy due to a medical practitioner’s negligence, discuss your options in seeking compensation with a lawyer at the Driscoll Firm. Call us at (800) 900-7704 to learn about your legal options.