If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by negligent medical care in the West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, or Port St. Lucie, Florida area, please contact experienced medical malpractice attorney Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. for an initial consultation.
Every year, two to four children out of every one thousand born are later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. About ten percent of these cases are caused by brain injury or oxygen deprivation at birth. Though these injuries may only be a tragic accident, other times they are caused by negligence on the part of medical personnel.
Cerebral palsy is not a disease, but is rather a collection of symptoms that can lead to minor to serious developmental issues. Motor development can be profoundly affected, and sometimes severe mental retardation occurs, as well.
Common symptoms of cerebral palsy include:
- Tremors or uncontrolled spasms
- Exaggerated reflexes
- Lack of coordination
- Problems with sucking or swallowing
- Delayed milestones, particular of motor skills
Cerebral palsy is usually diagnosed within the first year. It can’t be cured, but therapy and various treatments can be helpful in controlling the symptoms, particularly less severe symptoms.
Causes
Cerebral palsy can occur due to genetic factors, development issues that occur in utero, or illness, either in the mother before birth or in the newborn.
Maternal illnesses that can cause cerebral palsy include:
- Rubella (German measles)
- Chicken pox
- Toxoplasmosis
- Syphilis
Illnesses of special concern in infants include:
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
Cerebral palsy can also be caused by injuries suffered during delivery. We always hope that an infant’s delivery will occur without incident, but sometimes things do go wrong. Prolonged labor, a breech birth, or premature delivery all can bring a much higher risk of complications. If a medical professional fails to recognize or act upon signs of fetal distress, a newborn can be deprived of oxygen during delivery, which can lead to cerebral palsy. Other preventable causes of cerebral palsy include neglected seizures in newborns, or untreated cases of jaundice. Any of these can be directly related to negligence on the part of medical personnel.
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