Cerebral palsy is a limitation in a child's ability to move caused by brain damage either before, during, or after birth. It is estimated that about 20% of cerebral palsy cases are caused by a birth injury. The birth injury attorneys at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy can help parents whose child has cerebral palsy as a result of a birth injury. Below, we'll go over what you need to know as a parent with a child with cerebral palsy. Call us for a free consultation today!
How Birth Injuries Occur
Because a baby's brain is largely undeveloped, it is more susceptible to brain damage than an adult's. Thus, if something goes wrong during delivery, an injury may occur.
Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury
Common causes of cerebral palsy birth injury include:
- Lack of oxygen during birth, which can be caused by placental abruption or umbilical cord problems
- Misuse of forceps
- Infections
- Jaundice
Delay in Diagnosis
Many cerebral palsy cases never make it to court because parents don't realize that their child has cerebral palsy until months or even years down the road. In addition, healthcare providers are not required to report their mistakes to any governing board or to patients. This means that you, as a parent, need to take the initiative if you believe your child's condition was caused at birth.
Many Birth Injuries Are Avoidable
Birth injuries can be prevented. Oftentimes, they are caused simply by a lack of communication amongst the attending medical staff. An infant's stress might be missed, or a mother may have an infection upon arriving at the hospital that was missed.
PARTNER WITH MURPHY, FALCON & MURPHY TODAY
Bottom line is if you suspect something went wrong at the hospital and you have a deep gut feeling about it, give our birth injury lawyers a call. We offer free consultations so that you can have peace of mind about your birth experience. Time does play a factor in filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Maryland, so don't delay. Call Murphy, Falcon & Murphy for a free consultation today!