Cerebral palsy continues to be one of the most severe birth injuries. Even with scientific advances, and more widely available therapies for cerebral palsy, there is still no cure for the condition. Typically, oxygen deprivation called fetal asphyxia or brain bleeds (hemorrhaging) causes damage to the brain that results in cerebral palsy.
Contact Our Cerebral Palsy Lawyers as Soon as PossibleIf your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a birth injury, you may have a right to recover compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Under North Carolina law, when doctors act negligently or recklessly in treating their patients, they are liable for the resulting injuries. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC as soon as possible to discuss bringing your potential medical malpractice lawsuit regarding your child being diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Understanding Cerebral PalsyCerebral palsy is a medical diagnosis that covers several different neurological disorders. The effect of cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe depending on the individual’s condition. Almost every child who has received a diagnosis had some type of birth injury that caused brain damage.
Bringing a Cerebral Palsy LawsuitWhile some cases of cerebral palsy are not preventable or avoidable, in other cases, a doctor’s negligence causes the brain damage and resulting cerebral palsy diagnosis. When doctors fail to take quick action to stop the baby from not receiving enough oxygen, brain damage can occur.
A doctor’s failure to notice warning signs of fetal distress can cause cerebral palsy. The most common causes of cerebral palsy include the following:
In other cases of medical malpractice, doctors fail to properly diagnose cerebral palsy quickly. After a cerebral palsy diagnosis, children benefit from receiving physical and occupational therapy. When doctors fail to issue a diagnosis early on, they prevent the child from receiving necessary treatment.
In many medical malpractice lawsuits, doctors wait too long until the signs of the neurological disorder become extremely obvious. Unfortunately, by then, it is often too late for the child to receive the proper monitoring and services they need. In a medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff will need to prove that the doctor should have diagnosed the patient with cerebral palsy and did not, which led to the manifestation of injury that would have otherwise been preventable.
Typically, cerebral palsy is not progressive, meaning it does not get progressively worse over time. However, when the cerebral palsy is severe, the child will continue to need significant help and medical care.
Bringing Medical Malpractice Lawsuits in CharlotteMedical malpractice, also known as medical negligence, happens when a doctor or nurse fails to meet the standard of care determined by the medical community. When a child develops cerebral palsy as a result of one of the following types of medical negligence, he or she may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit:
When a child receives a diagnosis of cerebral palsy as a result of medical malpractice, they may have a claim entitling them to monetary damages. It is important to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the Charlotte medical malpractice lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC today to schedule your initial consultation. Call our office at (704) 370-2828 to evaluate your options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville, and Monroe.