Thousands of children across the United States are born with
cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that severely limits the bodily movements and
coordination of an infant. While some cases of cerebral palsy can be linked
to genetic and other prenatal conditions, many cases of cerebral palsy
are thought to be caused by a lack of oxygen making it to the infant’s
brain through the birthing process. Unfortunately, this
birth injury can have a life-long effect on the child and their families, permanently
affecting their ability to walk, talk, and function.
How does cerebral palsy occur in children?
Cerebral palsy occurs
during birth, meaning that many children are born with this injury. According to some
estimates from the Mayo Clinic, around 3 of every 1,000 births will be
affected with cerebral palsy. The three most common types are spastic,
athetoid, and ataxic. Each of these refers to the kind of impairment suffered
by the child, ranging from stiffness and difficulty moving to slurred
speech to tremors. No matter what kind of cerebral palsy a child has been
diagnosed with, a parent has the right to question whether a doctor would
have been able to prevent such a serious injury and hold them accountable
for harming their child as a result.
Causes of cerebral palsy in children include:
- Negligence in using birthing instruments
- Failure to treat infections
- Delay in performing a necessary C-section
- Inappropriately monitoring fetal heart rate
- Failing to discover a prolapsed
Some medical professionals work with utmost care, and the simple trauma
of giving birth resulted in cerebral palsy. However, medical professionals
can act negligently during the process and fail to take the proper actions
necessary to prevent cerebral palsy and other birth injuries from occurring.
Is your infant affected by
cerebral palsy? Speaking with a
Portland medical malpractice attorney can help determine whether a doctor was responsible for this birth injury,
and if so, begin taking the proper steps to ensure that your child’s
medical and rehabilitative costs are covered for the remainder of their lives.
Contact The Law Offices of Patrick L. Block, P.C. today to speak with an experienced attorney in Portland and get started!