North Carolina Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
Could Medical Negligence Be Behind Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder most commonly caused by oxygen deprivation during fetal development or birth, leading to brain damage. While cerebral palsy can result from unpreventable developmental problems, it is often caused by medical negligence during labor or delivery.
While children with cerebral palsy can lead long, fulfilling lives, there is no known cure. Those with cerebral palsy face a lifetime of medical treatment and care which, depending on the severity of the condition, can be either relatively minor or extreme. Regardless, the lifetime cost of caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be immense, placing a severe strain on parents and families.
Identifying Cerebral Palsy: Know the Symptoms
Cerebral palsy birth injury cases can be challenging, often because the symptoms of CP do not appear until a child is old enough to begin missing developmental milestones.
Some common symptoms of cerebral palsy include:
- Unusual muscle tone
- “Floppiness” or stiffness
- Abnormal reflexes, including lack of reflexes
- Spastic, uncontrolled movements
- Poor coordination and motor skills (especially fine motor skills)
- Difficulties speaking or delayed speech
- Unusual posture
- Poor balance/difficulties sitting up
If you have noticed your child exhibiting any of these or other symptoms of cerebral palsy, it is important that you take him or her to a qualified medical professional as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis.
Investigating the Cause: Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy
If your child shows signs of CP or has been diagnosed with the condition, you are likely wondering how this could have happened. Sadly, many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of a birth injury.
This may be the case if:
- You had a long, difficult labor or delivery
- Your doctor waited too long to order an emergency C-section
- Your child was born early and/or at a low birth weight
- A healthcare professional failed to properly monitor your child’s heart rate during birth
- There were complications during the birth, such as an umbilical cord wrapped around his/her neck or issues with the placenta/amniotic fluid
- Your child suffered post-birth trauma, which may have led to a brain injury
- Your child was diagnosed with meningitis
- You were prescribed an unsafe medication during pregnancy
These are just some examples of how medical negligence can lead to birth injuries that may have resulted in your child’s diagnosis. To learn more, including whether or not you have grounds for a claim, contact our North Carolina cerebral palsy lawyers for a free consultation.
Advocating for Your Child’s Future: Legal Action for Cerebral Palsy
While cerebral palsy can affect various aspects of your child’s life, it is important to remember that he or she can still have a full and meaningful life. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to provide your child with the treatment and equipment he or she needs to succeed. Filing a birth injury claim against the negligent medical professional or facility responsible for your child’s injury can allow you the financial ability to provide your child with everything he or she deserves.
At Lanier Law Group, we are dedicated to representing innocent children and their families who have been affected by life-altering birth injuries. Our attorneys bring decades of combined experience and a collaborative approach to each and every case. We are here to provide you with the compassionate legal guidance and counsel you need, coupled with the aggressive advocacy you and your child deserve.
