Birth InjuriesCerebral Palsy Lawyers

Cerebral palsy is usually caused by damage to the central nervous system to a baby just before birth, during birth or just after birth. A child with cerebral palsy may suffer from a delay in developmental milestones, symmetrical paralysis to parts of the body, paralysis to one half of the body, seizures, mental retardation, decreased muscle tone and spasticity of muscles. Cerebral palsy arises from damage to the brain and this damage can be mild to severe. The severity and scope of these birth injury symptoms depends on the extent of the brain injury. The condition can not be cured but treatment is available.

The diagnosis of cerebral palsy is often not made while the baby is at the hospital. Most people are diagnosed with the condition by their second birthday. The diagnosis is often made and/or corroborated as developmental milestones are reached at later than expected dates. Cerebral palsy can be relatively mild leading to some cases going undiagnosed. Other cases involve serious limiting conditions like a neurogenic bladder, visual disabilities, cognitive impairments, and severe movement disorders that can contribute to a decreased life expectancy.

Please call 301-888-4878 for a free cerebral palsy birth injury consultation with an eleven time Top 100 Maryland Super Lawyer and a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney. Patterson Law has offices in Annapolis and Bowie, Maryland.

Most cases of cerebral palsy are due to the baby being deprived of oxygen (asphyxia). Most cerebral palsy cases are due to asphyxia during delivery and postdelivery. A smaller percentage of cerebral palsy cases are due to factors before birth such as infections, maternal diabetes, exposure to toxins, being premature and subject to maternal fevers. The condition is more common in babies with a very low birth weight. A low birthweight and/or premature baby may still be subject to and more vulnerable to medical errors during and after delivery that may cause the damage.

Quality prenatal medical care and following safety procedures during the delivery of a baby can prevent cases of cerebral palsy. Prenatal care of a mother with diabetes is important. Keeping the diabetes under control can minimize the likelihood of a baby suffering from cerebral palsy. If a mother develops an illness or infection prompt medical care is important to avoid the baby from developing cerebral palsy from an infection or a fever.

Birth injury lawyer, George Patterson has been selected to the Top 100 Maryland Super Lawyers and the Top 100 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers list. He offers free consultations at his Annapolis and Bowie offices.

Quality care during the delivery of a baby is where most cases of cerebral palsy can be prevented. Managing complications during labor and delivery is the responsibility of the doctors and nurses. Perinatal asphyxia, birth asphyxia and neonatal asphyxia are all terms for a condition where an infant is deprived of oxygen for long enough periods during the birth process to cause damage, usually to the brain. Damage can occur to other organs nut the damage to the brain is the least likely to fully recover. A difficult or delayed delivery is something that a doctor would investigate as a potential cause of cerebral palsy. The monitoring performed at a hospital during the delivery process is in part designed to minimize the chances of cerebral palsy. Contractions during labor can squeeze the infant. The contraction can squeeze the head causing some blood to be forced out of the head. In such cases as the contraction subsides blood flows back into the infant’s head. The contractions are monitored to make sure they are not lasting too long or are not too strong.

The heart rate of the infant is also monitored. It an infant is being deprived of oxygen then signs of fetal distress are likely to follow. There are multiple difficulties during delivery that may result in asphyxia. Conducting a Cesarean section or a C-section is one method to end the fetal distress or to avoid it from occurring. A C-section must be performed in a timely manner. An unnecessary delay in performing a C-section is medical malpractice that can lead to cerebral palsy.

Birth injury lawyer George Patterson offers free consultations to evaluate cerebral palsy claims.