Factors That Can Cause the Brain Damage That Can Lead to Cerebral Palsy
There are a number of different conditions that may cause Cerebral Palsy to occur in the womb or during delivery. These include:
- Stroke
- Bleeding
- Brain Infection
- Oxygen Shortage
- Viral Infections
Aspects of the Birthing Process That May Be Considered Negligence If Special Care Is Not Provided
As mentioned in the introduction, Cerebral Palsy is usually caused by negligent pre-natal care or by a healthcare professional’s mistake in the delivery room. The following is a list of typical aspects of the birthing process that could be considered negligence if the condition is not attended to properly or the method used by the healthcare professional is applied incorrectly. If you experienced any of the following while pregnant or during delivery, please call us at The Law Offices of Jonathan B. Nelson, P.C. for a no obligation case review.
- Maternal health complications
- Viral infections
- Maternal bleeding
- Fetal bleeding
- The use of vacuum extractors and forceps
- Unusual response of fetus or mother to anesthesia
- Fetal distress due to lack of oxygen
- Unusually long or short labor
- Umbilical cord abnormalities
Evidence That Medical Negligence May Have Occurred
Figuring out whether medical negligence was the cause of your infant’s Cerebral Palsy is a complicated process. The first step is always to have your child’s medical records reviewed by an independent doctor with Cerebral Palsy experience. In many cases, the doctor will look for the following signs that may indicate medical negligence:
- Evidence of errors in an ultrasound report
- Evidence of errors in estimates of the due date by a prenatal healthcare professional
- Evidence that fetal weight was overestimated
- Evidence that improper quantities of Pitocin was used to induce labor
- Evidence of abnormal use of a vacuum extractor or forceps
- Evidence of a failure to act on changes in the mother’s condition during pregnancy (accounts for 90% of Cerebral Palsy)
- Evidence of a failure to interpret and respond to the changing conditions of the fetus during labor
- Evidence of a failure to order specific tests during pregnancy; and not interpreting these tests correctly
- Evidence of a failure to perform a c-section in the presence of fetal distress
- Evidence of a failure to deliver the infant when the membranes have been ruptured for too long
Preventing Cerebral Palsy
Doctors have a variety of tools to prevent Cerebral Palsy from occurring at the time of delivery. These tools include:
- Frequent monitoring of the blood pressure and gases of the unborn infant and mother
- Paying constant attention to fetal monitoring equipment
- The use of certain kinds of sedatives
- Using an umbilical artery catheter
- Intubation
- Suction of the infants airways (to prevent lack of oxygen to the brain)
- The administration of sodium bicarbonate
- Ensuring catheters are properly heparanized
- Ductal ligation
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