Pregnancy is a time of hoping and planning. Many women invest a lot of time and money into protecting the well-being of their unborn babies. Sadly, all of that hard work and loving dedication can disappear in a moment if a doctor makes a mistake. Most pregnancies go through labor and delivery successfully with no issues. However, sometimes things go wrong. If doctors fail to act or if they make the wrong decision, your baby and your family will be paying the price for the rest of you lives. Conditions like cerebral palsy can be the direct result of a doctor-caused birth injury.
Mistakes happen to all of us, but when doctors make mistakes during labor, the consequences for your family can last forever. Cerebral palsy will very likely require lifelong medical and social interventions for your child. Your family shouldn’t have to bear the burden of someone else’s mistake. If you believe your child developed cerebral palsy as a result of a medical mistake, you should speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can help you connect with a doctor who can provide a neutral analysis of the cause of your child’s cerebral palsy.
What is cerebral palsy?
For those who aren’t familiar with the condition, cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that impacts motor function in infants. Typically, cerebral palsy results either from abnormal brain development or injury, commonly lack of oxygen, before or during birth. When an infant goes into distress during labor, it can result in cerebral palsy if necessary medical interventions aren’t used immediately. Doctors need to take action as soon as possible if there are issues with the labor that could put your infant at risk. Failing to do so could result in cerebral palsy.
Children with cerebral palsy aren’t always diagnosed at birth. Many times, it is months or even years before the child’s motor development issues are discovered. Children may seem to progress in a typical fashion, only to begin lagging in gross motor development when they should be crawling and walking. Just because there is a delay in diagnosis doesn’t mean that the doctor who attended your birth isn’t responsible for your child’s condition. The best way to determine the cause and timing of the injury that caused cerebral palsy is to work with a neutral outside doctor for an accurate analysis and diagnosis.
An attorney will fight for you after a birth injury
Your family will likely have increased medical expenses if your child has cerebral palsy. One of the parents may choose to stay home to provide necessary care, which can impact your quality of life and financial security. An attorney can file a medical malpractice claim and help fight for the compensation your family deserves after a birth injury.