Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Malpractice
St. Louis Birth Injury Attorney
Has your child been diagnosed with cerebral palsy? If you had a particularly difficult childbirth or suspect that the doctor who delivered your son or daughter may have acted carelessly or negligently, it is important to explore your legal options. If medical malpractice was the cause of your child's condition, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. By holding the responsible medical professional or facility accountable, you will have the opportunity to recover the money that will cover medical expenses and possibly continued treatment for the rest of your child's life. This can make a considerable impact in your ability to ensure he or she receives the best care and leads as normal a life as possible.
At our firm, we are dedicated to helping families who have experienced the extreme hardships that come with cerebral palsy and other serious birth injuries. We welcome you to call our offices to schedule a free review of your case by a
St. Louis medical malpractice attorney. By undergoing a confidential consultation, you can find out more about your legal rights and whether you may have grounds for a malpractice lawsuit.
Cerebral Palsy: Diagnosis, Symptoms and Causes
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement and posture. It is caused by abnormal development of the brain or injury to the brain, typically before birth but possibly at birth or during infancy. The symptoms of cerebral palsy typically present in the first years of life, usually presenting as delays in reaching certain milestones, such as sitting up, rolling over, sitting without support, crawling or walking.
Though these may vary on a patient to patient basis, some of the primary symptoms may include:
- Impaired movement
- Rigidity of the limbs or trunk
- Abnormal posture
- Involuntary movements
- Unsteadiness or difficulty walking
- Developmental delays
- Mental retardation
- Difficulty swallowing
- Speech problems
- Seizures
- Vision and hearing problems
Medical Malpractice Lawyer in St. Louis, MO
In some cases, cerebral palsy may be caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain before, during or immediately after birth. Though there are some cases where a particularly complicated delivery results in injury no matter the level of medical care provided by the doctor and nurses, cerebral palsy may be attributed to medical malpractice. A delayed c-section, improper use of forceps or vacuum in an assisted delivery or other mistake or act of carelessness on the part of the attending OB/GYN or nurse may cause the infant to experience a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Every case is different, and these may come down to highly technical issues. It is important for a qualified professional to evaluate the matter to determine whether malpractice may be to blame for your child's condition. At Fox, Goldblatt & Singer, we represent clients throughout St. Louis and the surrounding areas in all types of medical malpractice claims, including those involving cerebral palsy.
Contact a St. Louis cerebral palsy lawyer at our firm today to learn more about your case and options.