What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Snyder & Snyder, Experienced CP Lawyers

Birth Trauma, Delivery Mistakes and Infections Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that impede the brain’s control of movement. Because cerebral palsy is an umbrella term, there can be various causes for the disorder. Although not all causes are clearly known, there are certain conditions and events related to the mother and child that have been evidenced to result in cerebral palsy. When an oxygen shortage occurs during the delivery process, birth asphyxia and corresponding brain damage may result. It has been estimated that an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain is responsible for close to ten percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Many times the failure to timely deliver, failure to convert to a Cesarean section, or the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor lead to cerebral palsy. Additionally, blood conditions may result in jaundice and severe jaundice can cause cerebral palsy. Infections in pregnant women have also been shown to cause the disorder, as can drug or alcohol use during pregnancy. Finally, brain infections and head injuries in the child can lead to severe brain damage and cerebral palsy.

• Infections and Cerebral Palsy
• Delivery Mistakes and Cerebral Palsy
• Cerebral Palsy in Children
• Caring for children with Cerebral Palsy
• Connection of Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy

Infections and Cerebral Palsy

Women with preexisting infections may be more likely to give birth to a child with cerebral palsy than women without infections. Specifically, infections of the uterus, bladder or kidneys, or bloodstream have been shown to be very dangerous. Children were nine times as likely to suffer from cerebral palsy if their mothers had any of these conditions.

Other infections in the mother such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, and reproductive or urinary tract infections may also cause brain damage and result in cerebral palsy. It is important for future mothers to inform their doctors about any infections they may suffer from. By working together, pregnant women and their physicians can help prevent cerebral palsy as a result of infection.

If your child has cerebral palsy, it is important to contact an attorney who can explain your legal rights as a parent. In some situations, doctors do a poor job addressing a mother’s infection or misdiagnose, resulting in the unthinkable-a lifelong disorder that could have been prevented with adequate medical attention. Call the experienced cerebral palsy trial lawyers at Snyder & Snyder today to discuss how your family can recover for such an unfortunate oversight.

Delivery Mistakes and Cerebral Palsy

It is widely believed that many cerebral palsy cases are a direct result of medical malpractice that occurs at the time of delivery. For example, a prolonged rupture of the amniotic membranes, slow fetal heart rate during labor, complications stemming from umbilical cord placement, and abnormal presentation of the child can all be delivery issues that may result in cerebral palsy. Procedural errors can also be made by doctors that have severe consequences. It is critical for a doctor to ensure that the baby gets enough oxygen during delivery. If complications arise, it is the medical staff’s responsibility to act quickly and save the lives of both the baby and the mother. This may require a cesarean section to prevent birth asphyxia, a condition that can result in brain damage, cerebral palsy, or even death.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you have any suspicion at all that his or her condition could have been prevented, you should call us immediately for a free consultation. Our experienced cerebral palsy trial lawyers are here to assist you and provide you with consultation and advice.

Cerebral palsy in Children

Children with Cerebral Palsy often need much more attention than other children do. Special needs for movement, interaction, and communication are sometimes taxing and frustrating to even the most devoted parents, and without special help it is difficult to know where to turn.

The first and most important thing to realize is that most children with Cerebral Palsy have the capacity for intellectual and emotional development. Life may be more challenging and stressful, but that should not prevent you from encouraging and enabling your child to grow and explore.

Schooling is also a complicated issue for caring for children with Cerebral Palsy. Although the law dictates that children with Cerebral Palsy have the right to attend school with other children, the reality is that these children have special needs that some schools lack the ability to address. Special inclusion programs mix disabled and healthy children into a single learning environment in order to teach them about differences at an early age.

Another important issue many parents of children with Cerebral Palsy must consider is that many of the support services available for families end on either the child’s 18th or 21st birthday. The prospect of disabled children facing the world is often more than most parents can bear, but the increasing cost of medical care in the United States often forces these children into special group homes or caretaking hospitals.

Regardless of their condition, your child needs your love and support. Cerebral Palsy should not prevent you from taking joy from your child’s life. Even though it can be difficult, there are ways to help.

Caring for Children with Cerebral Palsy

For children with special needs such as Cerebral Palsy, basic necessities such as food, toys, doctor’s appointments, education, and mobility equipment can cost three or four times more than with less challenged children.

Children with Cerebral Palsy need structured and focused long term treatment in order to fully reach their maximum potential. There are numerous types of therapy and advances in technology have greatly assisted those with special needs. In fact, therapies such as physical, speech, medications, surgeries, and supportive technology have allowed children with special needs the ability to live independent and productive lives. Unfortunately, all this comes with a very high price. That’s exactly where we can help you. We will investigate your claim to determine exactly what happened and whether or not someone else is responsible for these costs. Call the experienced cerebral palsy trial lawyers at Snyder & Snyder now for a free consultation.

Although there are many other causes of cerebral palsy, without question medical malpractice during labor and especially during delivery continues to be the major cause of these catastrophic birth injuries. Forceps injuries, vacuum damage, improper medication, asphyxiation, poorly timed or aggravated delivery or failure to timely perform a C-Section, can cause lifelong suffering to both the child and the parents. Although therapy and technology can help, there is no cure for cerebral palsy and the various treatments can be extremely expensive.

Connection of Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy

Unfortunately, more and more doctors and nurses are making mistakes that will affect a newborn and their family for an entire lifetime. In fact, most cases of cerebral palsy are preventable. Although in some cases it can be difficult to determine the cause, early or late delivery, incorrect medication, or failure to use the appropriate birthing method account for the large majority of causes of Cerebral Palsy.

Studies have shown that the main causes of cerebral palsy during the delivery process relate to:

• Forceps delivery
• Vacuum extraction delivery
• Exceptionally prolonged labor
• Low levels of amniotic fluid
• Twisted, compressed, or tangled umbilical cord
• Macrosomia or a baby that is too big for its development
• Placental abruption
• Excessive bleeding
• Failure to convert to a C-section

If your loved one has suffered a birth injury that you believe may have caused Cerebral Palsy, you should contact the experienced cerebral palsy trial lawyers at Snyder & Snyder right away.