Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in Kentwood, Michigan
Located in such close proximity to Grand Rapids, Kentwood is a city rich in medical and lifestyle resources for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) or other disabling conditions. Children and adults with cerebral palsy in the area are able to take advantage of prestigious medical facilities and procedures, participate in renowned rehabilitation programs, and join exciting schools, teams, and recreational therapy activities. At Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys, our Kentwood cerebral palsy lawyers are committed to obtaining the financial assistance necessary for clients to utilize Kentwood’s wonderful rehabilitation resources. Our Kentwood cerebral palsy lawyers have years of precise and extensive experience in birth injury and medical malpractice litigation, and they encourage you to reach out for help today—to receive a free legal consultation, fill out our online contact form here or call us toll-free at (888) 592-1857.
Cerebral Palsy from Birth Injury-Related Brain Injury
Before going into details about causes, treatments, or diagnoses, let’s first understand the basic facts about cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy, often abbreviated to CP, is the all-encompassing term given to a grouping of movement disorders that results from damage to the developing brain. The condition affects movement, motor function, control, learning abilities, cognitive function, the senses, and more. The brain damage at the center of a cerebral palsy case is permanent, but a variety of lifestyle supports, treatments, and therapies exist to restore maximum function and autonomy.
Cerebral Palsy from Medical Malpractice
Kentwood Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Representing Malpractice Victims in Michigan
Although a number of the hospitals and medical facilities in the Grand Rapids-Kentwood area are renowned, medical malpractice, negligence, and medical errors are inevitable. Our Kentwood cerebral palsy lawyers have handled birth injury malpractice cases from hospitals including Spectrum and Mercy St. Mary’s and are well acquainted with fighting for the compensation necessary to provide healthy, secure, equal lives for clients. In this section, we’ll name a couple of the more common negligent causes of cerebral palsy. To read more about the subject, don’t hesitate to reference our Causes & Risk Factors pages here.
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE; birth asphyxia) is a type of brain injury that occurs when an infant suffers oxygen deprivation around the time of birth. As you’ll read more throughout our website, birth asphyxia can occur as the result of a number of mismanaged pregnancy, labor, and delivery complications.
- Intracranial hemorrhages; brain bleeds: Several traumatic events may take place during the process of labor and delivery. When medical professionals fail to detect, prevent, and properly manage such complications, the result of birth trauma is often intracranial hemorrhaging, brain damage, and cerebral palsy. Some causes of intracranial hemorrhages include the misuse of forceps and vacuum extractors and the failure to perform a C-section during deliveries that fail to progress. Conditions like macrosomia, cephalopelvic disproportion, and uterine hyperstimulation must be treated with caution in order to prevent brain bleeds.
- Premature delivery: Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are often unequipped to handle the insults of delivery and the unprotected environment outside the womb. Since premature babies are born with underdeveloped organs and nervous systems, they are often subjected to dangerous infections, illnesses, respiratory problems, and more. Medical professionals are obligated to delay early labor and delivery in accordance with the standards of care and for as long safety permits.
- Uterine rupture is an emergency labor and delivery complication characterized by the tearing open of the uterus. Uterine rupture often results in maternal hemorrhaging and is a known cause of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
- Placental complications: Placental previa, insufficiency, and abruption are all complications that disturb the efficiency of the placenta and compromise the health, oxygen intake, birthing process and safety of the baby.
- The failure to order and perform emergency C-sections is a common form of medical malpractice. It is the standard of care for hospitals to provide the proper facilities for emergency C-sections, and medical professionals must be prepared to quickly execute Cesarean operations.
- A nuchal cord is a complication that occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck. Nuchal cords are pregnancy and delivery problems that are both common and dangerous. Medical professionals must detect, control, and work around nuchal cords to prevent hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, brain damage, cerebral palsy, and lifelong disability.
- Maternal health problems compromise the health and safety of neonates. Certain infections (such as Group B Strep, bacterial vaginosis, chorioamnionitis, and more) may transfer to the baby and attack the developing brain unless treated or controlled. Other maternal health issues, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure), and vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC), must be carefully considered, monitored, and treated by medical professionals to avoid cerebral palsy and related disabilities.
These are some of the many ways that medical error and negligence can lead to cerebral palsy. To read more about cerebral palsy causes and risk factors, visit this webpage.
Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
For cerebral palsy patients, early diagnosis is crucial for maximum recovery. Although there is no way to cure the initial brain injury that causes a patient’s cerebral palsy, certain treatment and therapy options increase mobility, function, independence, and well-being. Therefore, the earlier a patient’s diagnosis, the more time that patient has to adapt to the social, physical, cognitive, and emotional setbacks of cerebral palsy. Below we’ve listed a few of the available diagnostic tests and approaches. To read more about the subject, please visit this webpage.
- Apgar scoring uses a basic scoring system to quickly assess a newborn’s chances of health and survival right after delivery. Babies are scored based on complexion, pulse, reflex irritability, activity, and respiratory effort to determine conditions like cerebral palsy.
- Brain imaging tests including MRIs, ultrasounds, CT scans, EEGs, and evoked potential tests help diagnose brain injury, seizures, cerebral palsy, cognitive delays and other developmental disabilities.
- Umbilical cord blood gas tests are used to determine whether a baby has suffered oxygen deprivation. By examining blood from the umbilical artery, physicians can test for high blood acidity levels, which denote past hypoxic ischemic events.
Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Early identification of the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy often prompts early diagnosis and recovery. To be sure your loved one receives treatment as quickly as possible, specialists encourage you to be on the lookout for the following signs of cerebral palsy:
- Seizures
- Deformities of the bones and joints
- Lack of muscle tone; weakness
- Low Apgar score after birth
- Gait irregularities
- Retention of the primitive reflexes
- Spasticity, tremors, involuntary movements, and spasms
- Difficulty holding objects; failure to develop motor control function by the appropriate age
- Failure to meet developmental milestones
- Fatigue
- Poor vision and hearing
To read more about the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy, visit this webpage.
Help for Victims of Medical Malpractice
Kentwood Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another birth injury that you think may have resulted from a medical professional’s violation of care standards, don’t hesitate to reach out to our skilled Kentwood cerebral palsy lawyers. Your loved one deserves every opportunity for rehabilitation and equal opportunity. Reach out to the Kentwood cerebral palsy lawyers at Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys by filling out our online contact form or calling us toll-free at (888) 592-1857.