While cerebral palsy resulting from birth injuries attributed to medical malpractice are not very common, instances of medical malpractice leading to cerebral palsy are do occur.  For every 1000 births in the United States, 2 to 3 of these children born in the U.S. will develop cerebral palsy.  Some of these cases of cerebral palsy stem from natural occurrences while the child is in the womb or during or after delivery.  In other cases, the physician or nurse overseeing the care and treatment of the mother and the child fails to properly and timely treat emergency situations that arise during the course of labor and delivery.  This failure of the healthcare provider can have serious consequences and lead to birth injuries, which in turn can cause a child to develop cerebral palsy.  If the child develops cerebral palsy as a result of a birth injury that occurred because of the healthcare provider’s mistakes or negligence, the healthcare provider can be found guilty of medical malpractice and ordered to financially compensate the injured child and his or her parents.

    There are multiple symptoms of cerebral palsy, and children affected by cerebral palsy may manifest one or many of these related symptoms.  Parents of young children may notice some of the following of symptoms if their child has cerebral palsy: involuntary writhing movements, difficulty with fine motor control, muscle rigidity, mental impairment, developmental delays, difficulty sucking, speech difficulty, hearing disorders, or seizures.  These are just a few of the symptoms that may indicate the child is suffering from cerebral palsy.  In Maryland and Washington D.C., parents may want to have their child evaluated by a doctor between 2-3 years of age to determine if the child’s physical and mental limitations are the result of cerebral palsy.  If the child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the parents may then begin to investigate the factors that led to their child’s development of cerebral palsy.

    Because caring for a child with cerebral palsy can seriously strain a family’s finances, it is important to determine if the child’s condition is the result of medical malpractice.  Healthcare providers can be ordered to pay the families of children with cerebral palsy large amounts of money to properly care and provide for their special needs child.  Robinson and Associates is a law firm that specializes in medical malpractice cases and can offer parents the legal guidance they need in filing their medical malpractice claim.  For a free consultation, contact Robinson and Associates.