Cerebral palsy is a condition that is most often caused by brain damage occurring before, during or after birth. A vast majority of cerebral palsy cases occur as a result of prolonged labor or a difficult childbirth and are also frequently the result of medical negligence (carelessness).
It is important to remember that cerebral palsy is a condition that has a significant impact on the everyday lives of the children who struggle with the symptoms, and also their parents and caregivers who are dedicated to helping them deal with the effects of this potentially lifelong disability. There are a number of challenges associated with raising a child with cerebral palsy. Understanding what causes this condition can play an important part in determining who can be held responsible for your child’s condition.
What Are the Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of disorders characterized by a disruption of motor control. When parts of the brain that make movement, balance and muscular control possible are damaged, the child may develop this neurological condition called cerebral palsy. The symptoms of cerebral palsy will depend on the part of the brain that has been damaged.
Here are some of the most common causes and risk factors for cerebral palsy:
Anesthesia errors: When an anesthetic such as an epidural is not administered properly, it may lead to infant brain damage, which may in turn lead to cerebral palsy.
Asphyxiation or lack of oxygen: One of the most common causes of cerebral palsy is when the baby’s oxygen supply is cut off during delivery. When oxygen supply is cut off even for a short period of time, the brain may suffer irreparable damage. This may lead to cerebral palsy.
Birth injuries: When a child suffers head injuries during birth, that may result in cerebral palsy as well. For example, if an obstetrician puts too much force on the child’s head or uses birth-assistive tools such as forceps or vacuum extractors with too much force, it may lead to severe brain injuries and damage to the brain, and in turn cause cerebral palsy. Compensation may be sought in such cases of medical negligence (carelessness).
Infections during pregnancy: Certain infections in the mother such as Rubella, cytomegalovirus or even a urinary tract infection, may lead to elevated levels of proteins in the baby that cause inflammation and lead to brain damage in the baby.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Cerebral palsy is often linked to negligence (carelessness) during the labor and delivery of a child. It is the responsibility of medical professionals to monitor the condition of the fetus and the mother and make decisions that would reduce or eliminate risks. If your child has cerebral palsy he or she may be able to receive compensation to help pay for medical expenses, lost income, cost of therapy, future treatments, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. One of our clients secured a $2,850,000 verdict that was reduced by the appeals court to $1,846,000 because the verdict was so large. This was the highest amount upheld by the appellate (appeals) courts for many, many years. In addition we recovered $1,400,000 for a newborn who lost motion in the arm during birth due to doctors applying incorrect force on the baby’s head. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
We have seen many cases where New York City Health and Hospital Corporation facilities deliver babies who are born with cerebral palsy or brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) stemming from negligence (carelessness), and/or medical malpractice in the labor and delivery etc. of the children.
The following list identifies some of these hospitals (operated by New York City Health and Hospital Corporation):
• Jacobi Hospital aka Bronx Municipal 1400 Pelham Parkway South Bronx, New York 10461 718-918-5000
• Lincoln Hospital 234 East 149th Street Bronx, New York 10451 718-579-5000
• North Central Bronx Hospital 3424 Kossuth Avenue Bronx, New York 10467 718-519-5000
• Coney Island Hospital 2601 Ocean Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11235 718-616-3000
• Kings County Hospital 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11203 718-245-3131
• Woodhull Hospital 760 Broadway Brooklyn, New York 11206 718-963-8000
• Bellevue Hospital 462 First Avenue New York, New York 10016 212-562-5555
• Harlem Hospital 506 Lenox Avenue New York, New York 10037 212-939-1000
• Metropolitan Hospital 1901 First Avenue New York, New York 10029 212-423-6262
• Elmhurst Hospital 79-01 Broadway Elmhurst, New York 11373 718-334-4000
• Queens Hospital Center 82-68 164th Street Jamaica, New York 11432 718-883-3000
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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