Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Roughly 10,000 new cases of cerebral palsy crop up every year and, due to different medical errors, many result from the negligence of medical professionals. Unfortunately, only a few of the many affected individuals and their families will pursue legal action. At Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys, our St. Clair Shores cerebral palsy lawyers understand how overwhelming or intimidating the prospect of medical malpractice litigation can be for the families of a recently diagnosed cerebral palsy patient. In this section, we’ll ease you into the process so you can begin to understand just how beneficial financial compensation can be in the life of your disabled loved one.
Below, we’ll briefly introduce you to cerebral palsy—the medical facts, how medical errors contribute to the condition, treatments and therapies, and the options available to families for whom legal action is necessary. We invite you to use the resources available here and throughout our website and to reach out to our St. Clair Shores cerebral palsy lawyers with and questions, concerns, or case inquiries. Don’t hesitate to contact one of our St. Claire Shores cerebral palsy lawyers in any of the following ways:
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What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that impairs movement, motor function, and coordination. CP is caused by damage to the developing cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain as a whole. When a birth injury causes cerebral palsy, patients often experience side effects that include seizures and epilepsy, learning disabilities and cognitive impairments, decreased muscle mass, spasms and spasticity, joint and bone deformities, speech and language difficulties, and others.
Causes of Birth Injury and CP in St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Our St. Clair Shores Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Discuss Birth Injury and Malpractice
Because individuals with cerebral palsy are often forced to cope with limiting physical, social, cognitive, and mental side effects, it is devastating to learn that a great many CP cases result from medical negligence. When medical professionals fail to properly diagnose, monitor, manage, and treat the common complications of pregnancy and delivery, they compromise the health and safety of both the baby and mother. In this section, we’ll list some of the most common instances of medical malpractice and explain how they lead to birth injury, cerebral palsy, brain damage, and lifelong disabilities.
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (birth asphyxia; HIE) accounts for a large percentage of cerebral palsy diagnoses each year. This form of brain injury occurs when a baby receives insufficient amounts of oxygen around the time of delivery. While HIE is one of the leading causes of cerebral palsy, it is almost always the result of another mismanaged complication of pregnancy and delivery. Some causes of HIE include nuchal cords, uterine rupture, maternal infections or illnesses, size abnormalities or malpresentation, the failure to order emergency C-sections, and more.
- Premature birth is another primary cause of cerebral palsy—perhaps, in fact, the condition’s most highly recognized cause. Like hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, premature birth is associated with a number of other pregnancy and delivery complications that can lead to cerebral palsy. Some include underdeveloped organs, over-ventilation, neonatal hypoglycemia, kernicterus and jaundice, apnea, intracranial hemorrhages, and infection. Because the injuries associated with preterm birth can be so dangerous, it is the standard of care for medical professionals to properly assess other risks of a pregnancy and accordingly delay delivery for as long as it is safe.
- Nuchal cords account for roughly one third of all pregnancies and compromise the safety and health of infants. When the umbilical cord becomes entangled around the baby’s neck, it limits flow of oxygen and blood to the baby’s brain. Other umbilical cord issues that can lead to HIE and cerebral palsy include prolapsed and compressed umbilical cords.
- Delayed emergency Cesarean sections may lead to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, brain damage, and cerebral palsy. In challenging, complicated, or dangerous vaginal deliveries, it is the standard of care for medical professionals and birthing facilities to be prepared for emergency C-sections.
- Intracranial hemorrhages, also known as brain bleeds, are birth trauma injuries that may occur in cases of size incompatibility (CPD, macrosomia, and others) or with the misuse of delivery assistance tools like forceps and vacuum extractors. When a baby suffers an intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding within the brain or skull may lead to cerebral palsy, brain damage, and lifelong developmental disabilities.
- Fetal distress describes any scenario in which a baby cannot handle the insults or demands of labor and delivery. Medical professionals are required to monitor heart rate tracings, which display fetal agitation. Perhaps the most important function of fetal heart rate monitors is their ability monitor oxygen intake and indicate the potential for HIE. Fetal distress generally denotes the need for an emergency C-section, and failure to do so often leads to HIE and cerebral palsy.
To view our complete resource section on the causes and risk factors of cerebral palsy, visit this page.
Legal Help for Cerebral Palsy and Birth Injury in St. Clair Shores, Michigan
St. Clair Shores Cerebral Palsy Lawyers and Attorneys
If you suspect a medical error contributed to your loved one’s birth injury, don’t hesitate to call our St. Clair Shores cerebral palsy lawyers. Our legal team has decades of experience handling cases specific to birth injury, cerebral palsy, and medical malpractice. Call Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys today for a free case evaluation at (888) 592-1857 or fill out our online contact form. Our St. Clair Shores cerebral palsy lawyers look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your loved one.