Shelton Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Most people enter a hospital’s labor and delivery wing expecting to leave in a few days with a healthy baby. We trust that their doctors, midwives, and other obstetric providers will provide the care they need to deliver a child safely. Unfortunately, obstetricians and other medical professionals occasionally make mistakes during a child’s birth. Medical negligence can lead to life-changing birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

If you suspect that a provider’s malpractice led to your child developing cerebral palsy, do not hesitate to reach out to our birth injury attorneys at Berkowitz Hanna. An experienced Shelton cerebral palsy lawyer can advise you of your legal rights and help you seek justice for your child.

Signs of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person’s motor control, balance, movement, and posture. In addition to motor impairments, cerebral palsy can result in intellectual disabilities and speech, hearing, and vision impairments. Some patients have mild, barely noticeable symptoms, such as a slower or slightly lilting gait. Other patients have severe cases that confine them to wheelchairs.

Cerebral palsy is generally not diagnosed right after birth. Signs of the condition appear over time as the baby ages and developmental milestones, such as learning to roll, crawl, sit up, or walk, are not met. Other symptoms include shaking or spastic limbs or other signs that a child has trouble controlling their movements. Babies with cerebral palsy sometimes drool more than other babies. They might also have difficulty swallowing, eating, and eventually speaking.

Parents who are concerned about their child should check with their doctors, who can perform diagnostic tests to screen for cerebral palsy. It is also crucial to consult with a Shelton attorney when there is a chance that the cerebral palsy resulted from a medical mistake.

Types of Medical Mistakes that Can Lead to Cerebral Palsy

While some cases of cerebral palsy are genetic, others arise from preventable medical mistakes. When medical professionals act negligently during pregnancy or birth, the baby can suffer irreparable damage to the brain. Some of the most common examples of actionable medical negligence that can result in cerebral palsy are as follows:

  • Failure to order a C-section in advance – if an ultrasound towards the end of pregnancy reveals that a baby is too large to fit through the birth canal, a responsible obstetrician would not take a chance on jeopardizing the baby’s health during a dangerous vaginal delivery and would likely order a cesarean
  • Delay in ordering an emergency c-section when the baby is in fetal distress
  • Failure to continuously monitor the baby’s heart rate during labor and delivery
  • Careless errors with delivery instruments, such as forceps and vacuums
  • Failure to treat maternal infections during pregnancy

One mistake in the delivery room could lead to a lifetime of medical problems. Shelton cerebral palsy attorneys are ready to hold negligent providers accountable for their actions.

Speak with a Shelton Cerebral Palsy Attorney

Caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be emotionally exhausting and financially draining. Your child might need medical care and assistance throughout their life. Sadly, many cases of cerebral palsy could have been prevented if medical staff had acted appropriately.

Do not hesitate to speak with a Shelton cerebral palsy lawyer about your family’s legal options. Our team can fight for your family’s right to fair compensation. Contact us today.