Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in Sterling Heights
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological condition characterized by various movement impairments. Caused by damage to a child’s developing brain before, during, or shortly after birth, cerebral palsy often results in abnormalities of muscle tone, reflex, coordination, posture, balance, control, the senses, and cognition. Other side effects include seizures and epilepsy, learning disabilities, communication and feeding difficulties, and more. While there is no guaranteed treatment for cerebral palsy, various medical procedures, lifestyle adjustments, and therapies better the social, physical, cognitive, and emotional side effects of CP.
Because the medical and lifestyle repercussions of infant brain damage are so extreme, it is the standard of care for medical professionals to identify, prevent, control, and correct any of the condition’s possible causes. When a medical professional fails to do so and the error harms the mother or the child, it is considered medical malpractice.
Was your loved one injured around the time of birth? If so, we encourage you to contact the experienced Sterling Heights cerebral palsy lawyers from our legal team. Contact Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in any of the following ways and our Sterling Heights cerebral palsy lawyers will provide you with a free legal consultation. Our no-fee policy ensures you will not be charged until we win or settle in your favor.
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What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Our Sterling Heights Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Discuss Medical Malpractice in Sterling Heights, Michigan
Misdiagnosing, mismanaging, or failing to identify a number of complications of labor and delivery commonly results in brain damage and cerebral palsy. Although Sterling Heights is home to strong medical providers such as St. John, Henry Ford, and Beaumont, the Sterling Heights cerebral palsy lawyers from our birth injury law firm have dealt with medical errors from these otherwise upstanding hospitals. Some of the specific complications that lead to brain damage and cerebral palsy include the following:
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE, birth asphyxia): This form of brain injury takes place when a newborn experiences oxygen deprivation around the time of birth. When insufficient amounts of oxygenated blood reach an infant’s brain, the result is often lifelong brain damage, cerebral palsy, and developmental disability. Below, we’ll discuss a few of the complications that can lead to HIE.
- Brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhages): When the excessive forces and traumas of delivery create too much pressure on an infant’s head, the baby is at risk for intracranial bleeding. Some known causes of intracranial hemorrhaging include:
- Strong uterine contractions and hyperstimulation, which are accompanied by prolonged periods of labor and delivery, often result in intracranial bleeding and brain damage. They are often caused by size abnormalities between the mother and baby—cephalopelvic disproportion (the infant is too large to pass through the mother’s pelvis) and macrosomia (the baby is larger than usual). Additionally, the incorrect use of labor-induction drugs such as Cytotec or Pitocin often produce uterine hyperstimulation.
- The improper use of delivery assistance tools (such as forceps and vacuum extractors) may put excessive pressure on a baby’s head or shift the baby in a dangerous position.
- Failure of a medical professional to swiftly order an emergency C-Section makes vaginal delivery dangerous, particularly in cases of abnormal size or positioning.
- The following maternal health problems and complications may lead to cerebral palsy, brain damage, and HIE:
- Maternal infections such as chorioamnionitis (intra-amniotic infection), villitis (which occurs when placental infection is left untreated), Group B Strep (GBS), urinary tract infection (UTI), and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are hazardous to fetal health. Failure to detect and treat them often leads to HIE, cerebral palsy and brain damage.
- Other maternal medical complications and conditions such as gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios (insufficient amniotic fluid levels), VBAC (vaginal delivery after having undergone a past C-Section), and preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure) often lead to oxygen deprivation to the baby, brain damage, and lifelong cerebral palsy.
- The following undiagnosed and untreated infant health issues can cause hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, brain damage, and lifelong developmental disabilities:
- Jaundice and kernicterus: While jaundice is common and easily treated, the threatening condition kernicterus results from untreated cases of jaundice. This excess of bilirubin causes severe brain damage and cerebral palsy.
- Neonatal sepsis and meningitis and both dangerous infections that occur in newborns. When left untreated or undiagnosed, babies face lifelong brain damage, cognitive impairments and delays, seizures, and other difficulties.
- Fetal strokes occur between 14 weeks of gestation and delivery. Physicians are expected to detect and diagnose them and follow up with hypothermia treatment, medication, or supportive therapies to avoid subsequent brain damage and cerebral palsy.
- Umbilical Cord Problems such as nuchal cords, prolapsed cords, and compressed cords compromise the amount of oxygenated blood that can pass to the baby’s brain.
If your loved one was diagnosed with cerebral palsy from one of these complications (or another complication resulting from medical negligence), reach out to our Sterling Heights cerebral palsy lawyers today for a free legal consultation. Our Sterling Heights cerebral palsy lawyers will review your case and determine if you are eligible for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Cerebral Palsy Signs and Symptoms
Because there is no single diagnostic test for cerebral palsy, it is important for both medical professionals and family members to watch for its many signs and symptoms. Parents, loved ones, and medical professional should watch out for the following:
Medical signs: Seizures, weakness, joint deformities, and failure to breathe after delivery.- Gait abnormalities: Imbalances, gait difficulties, or uneven crawling.
- Control and coordination difficulties: Tremors, spasms, spasticity, and motor function difficulties.
- Retention of the common primitive reflexes (step, tonic neck, rooting, grasp, and crawl)
- Developmental delays such as failure to blink, failure to respond to sound, trouble sitting up at seven months, and the inability to control movement are often indicators of cerebral palsy. Additionally, delayed postural reactions indicate CP.
- Other symptoms include fatigue, tenseness, irritability, and issues with the senses (hearing and sight in particular).
Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in Michigan
Sterling Heights Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
At Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys, we have a specific and thorough understanding of the legal matters surrounding birth injury litigation. Our Sterling Heights cerebral palsy lawyers will help you determine if your child’s cerebral palsy resulted from medical malpractice, and we will fight to obtain the compensation you and your child deserve if medical negligence occurred. Whether your child was injured at a Sterling Heights medical center or at another Michigan facility, our cerebral palsy attorneys are here to help. Email or call us toll-free at (888) 592-1857.
In the meantime, we encourage the Sterling Heights residents affected by cerebral palsy to reference our Sterling Heights Cerebral Palsy Resources page here.