Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disorder caused by a brain injury in a fetus or very young child. It is characterized by difficulty with movement and poor muscle tone. It may also include either rigid or limp limbs, poor posture, uncontrolled movements, or difficulty walking. People with cerebral palsy may or may not have other brain abnormalities, including intellectual disabilities.
It is believed that most cases of cerebral palsy are caused by an injury that occurred before or during birth. Although an injury may cause cerebral palsy in a child up to the age of three, this happens in a minority of cases. If you child suffers from cerebral palsy caused by a negligent doctor or nurse, you may be able to take legal action in the form of a medical malpractice claim. To discuss your case with an experienced Philadelphia birth injury lawyer, contact Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.
How Birth Injuries Occur
If doctors suspect that your baby has cerebral palsy, you may be wondering how this happened. While there are some causes of cerebral palsy that could not be prevented, birth injuries leading to cerebral palsy often need not have happened if healthcare workers were all behaving professionally. Some of the ways that a birth injury can lead to cerebral palsy include:
- If your baby was born breech. Babies born in the breech position are more likely to have cerebral palsy. Your physician or birth attendant may have mishandled a breech position baby, leading to a birth injury and cerebral palsy.
- A long labor also increases risk for cerebral palsy. If your water broke and it took more than 24 hours for your baby to be born, your doctor may have been negligent in assuring the safety of your baby.
- Oxygen deprivation from extended periods in the birth canal.
These are just some of the ways that a preventable birth injury can lead to cerebral palsy.
Contact Us
If your child has cerebral palsy and you believe that a medical professional behaved in a negligent manner and caused this accident, you may be able to receive financial compensation for injuries suffered. While this will never undo the harm that was caused, it can help your family deal with the many practical considerations that come up when raising a child with special needs. If you wish to speak with someone about your legal options, call the Philadelphia birth injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams at 215-238-1130 today.