A diagnosis of cerebral palsy for your child can be a frightening moment as a parent. You may have questions about what this means for your child’s short- and long-term health. You also may be wondering what caused this injury.
Sometimes, cerebral palsy occurs because of an underlying condition that no one could have anticipated. Other times, the negligence of medical personnel may have injured the baby before or during the birthing process, eventually leading to the formation of cerebral palsy.
If you are concerned about this diagnosis, contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group to discuss your case. A Highlands Ranch cerebral palsy lawyer from our team may be able to represent you.
We will work to determine the facts in your case and, if you sign on for representation, help your family pursue a fair settlement.
Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis with no up-front costs to the families we represent.
For a free legal consultation with Highlands Ranch Cerebral Palsy lawyer, call 1-800-222-9529
How Cerebral Palsy Is Diagnosed
Even if your child’s cerebral palsy condition can be traced back to an injury at birth, doctors may not be able to diagnose it immediately. It can take anywhere from a couple of months up to a few years for a doctor to see the signs of cerebral palsy.
When cerebral palsy is being diagnosed, a doctor may use several forms of testing, including:
- Blood tests: where the doctor may look for genetic abnormalities that could cause cerebral palsy.
- Imaging: where the doctor will order an MRI of the child’s brain, looking for any abnormalities that could indicate that the brain is not developing as it should.
- Sensory: where the doctor may order tests of the child’s vision, hearing, and speech, looking for specific problems and slower than average developmental milestones.
- Tracking: where a doctor will measure and chart a child’s developmental progress over time.
With some of these tests, the doctor will not receive useful information until the child is a little older, which is a key reason a diagnosis of cerebral palsy sometimes is delayed.
If you believe your child is missing any developmental milestones, contact a doctor for a cerebral palsy evaluation.
Effects of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy and its symptoms can affect a child throughout their life. Primarily, cerebral palsy affects a child’s ability to move. Muscle control and development may be impaired, which can lead to reduced strength or difficulty walking.
Cerebral palsy can occur in conjunction with other conditions that can affect the child’s quality of life, including:
- Learning disabilities
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
- Eating and swallowing problems
- Respiratory distress
Because there is no cure for cerebral palsy, treatment may be ongoing throughout the child’s life.
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Cerebral Palsy Treatment Options
Depending on the child’s symptoms, treatment may include:
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- The use of assistive mobility devices
- Medications that relax muscles
The goal of most of these treatments is to offer relief from cerebral palsy symptoms and to help the child be as self-sufficient as possible.
The cost of these treatments can add up over the years. If your child’s cerebral palsy was caused due to medical negligence, you may be able to recover compensation that covers your child’s treatments, therapies, and more.
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Potential Causes of Cerebral Palsy
In a birth that results in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, one or more potential causes could be present, including:
- Infection for the mother during pregnancy
- Premature birth
- Brain bleed for the baby
- Head injury for the baby
- Lack of oxygen for the baby during birth
While some of these causes are naturally occurring or unpreventable, others can be the result of medical malpractice. This could be true if:
- A doctor failed to detect or treat an infection in the mother during pregnancy.
- A doctor did not notice or correct a condition cutting off blood or oxygen supply to the baby.
- A doctor failed to screen and prepare for a complicated birth process.
- Excessive force was used during delivery, either manually or with a birth assistance device.
If you believe the negligence of medical personnel before or during birth caused an injury or a misdiagnosis that resulted in your child’s cerebral palsy, you may be able to bring a birth injury lawsuit against the responsible party.
A Highlands Ranch cerebral palsy lawyer from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group may be able to establish malpractice in your case using medical records, interviews with witnesses in the delivery room, and testimony from medical experts. If we can produce evidence that negligence occurred in the birth of your baby, you could have a successful lawsuit.
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Cerebral Palsy Cases Have a Time Limit in Colorado
Each state, including Colorado, has specific laws regarding how long you have to file a medical malpractice case. This is referred to as a statute of limitations. If this deadline passes, you may lose your right to recover compensation.
A Highlands Ranch cerebral palsy lawyer from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help you figure out any deadlines you must meet when filing a birth injury lawsuit. Call us at (800) 222-9529 for a free case review.
We Are Ready to Represent Your Interests
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group represents Highland Ranch families in medical malpractice cases. We will defend your rights through the negotiation phase, as well as in court, if necessary.
Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529. You will not pay any up-front fees for our representation. We work on a contingency fee basis.
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