If your child suffers from tetraplegic cerebral palsy, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the appropriate health care professionals. A cerebral palsy lawyer can help you hold the right people accountable. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group to connect with a lawyer in your state today.
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits
It can be physically and financially overwhelming when the delivery and birth of your baby leads to medical complications. When your delivery results in a diagnosis of tetraplegic cerebral palsy, your child will require specialized treatments and ongoing medical attention. You may be able to file a lawsuit for financial compensation.
A successful lawsuit depends on the ability to assign liability by proving your doctor failed to meet the acceptable standard of care you and your baby were entitled to receive. In many cases, this will require the testimony of an expert witness—another medical professional in the same field. The expert witness will testify as to whether your doctor took the same actions another competent doctor in the same field would have taken.
You are entitled to recover the cost of your child’s medical care and treatments in a birth injury lawsuit. You have a right to receive compensation for those current and future medical costs and other recoverable damages on behalf of your son or daughter. An attorney can help you meet filing deadlines and other regulations of your state.
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Overview
Tetraplegic cerebral palsy is marked by increased muscle tone in the arms and legs on both sides of the body.
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Causes
Tetraplegic cerebral palsy can have many causes. Some of these causes might be the result of physician error or a maternal condition prior to and during birth and delivery. Some of the known causes of tetraplegic cerebral palsy include:
- Brain damage
- Congenital deformities of the brain
- Fetal infection
- Maternal infection
- Periventricular leukomalacia
- Fetal stroke
- Fetal asphyxia
- Maternal hypertension
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Infants and children with tetraplegic cerebral palsy will experience an inability to walk due to stiff limbs. They might also suffer from severely impaired speech development. A child with tetraplegic cerebral palsy might have moderate to severe decreases in cognitive and intellectual function along with difficulty communicating.
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis and Treatment
Tetraplegic cerebral palsy is diagnosed by a physician using Apgar scores, visual cues on examination, imaging tests, and laboratory blood work. Tetraplegic cerebral palsy is treated with physical therapies designed to strengthen limbs and relieve stiffened muscles. Patients might also receive prescription medications and undergo surgical procedures to repair deformed limbs.
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding tetraplegic cerebral palsy is an important step in ensuring your child receives the medical care and treatments they need. The following questions and answers can help you enhance your understanding of your child’s diagnosis and condition.
How Do I Know If My Baby Has Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy?
Only a physician can provide a confirmed diagnosis of tetraplegic cerebral palsy. You might notice a floppy neck, stiff limbs, or unexplained seizures in your child. If you do notice these and other symptoms including cognitive delays, consult a pediatrician right away.
Can Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Be Fatal?
Tetraplegic cerebral palsy is not a fatal disorder but can lead to a variety of complications for your child. These complications might include severely deformed limbs, the development of scoliosis, foot deformities, noticeable difficulty swallowing, and difficulty controlling bladder and bowel function.
Who Is Liable For Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy?
Because many factors can contribute to tetraplegic cerebral palsy, it can be challenging to assign liability on your own. Some causes that might help define liability include determining physician error, citing untreated maternal or fetal infection, and identifying cases of maternal hypertension.
What Is The Statute Of Limitations For Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy?
Are you aware of the limits your state places on the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit for tetraplegic cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice? The statute of limitations and the statute of repose are in place in your state for a reason. Your state has a set number of years designed to foster timely legal action.
Many states in the US also allow their statute of limitations to ‘toll’ for minors. That means the statute of limitations might not start running until your child is 18 years old. An attorney can help you determine how these rules might apply to your case.
Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at 1-800-222-9529 to connect with a lawyer in your state. Your attorney will help you meet the deadline for your state and fight for the settlement you and your child deserve.
Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy Glossary Terms
- What Is Tetriplegia?
Tetriplegia is paralysis that affects all four limbs and the torso. - What Is Fetal Asphyxia?
Fetal asphyxia is a medical diagnosis affecting newborns. It results from a lack of oxygen to the brain during the birth process. - What Are Apgar Scores?
Apgar scores are an objective scoring of a newborn baby. It ranks the newborn’s heart rate, respiration, reflexes, muscle tone, and skin color. An ideal Apgar score is ten which indicates a healthy baby.
Speak With A Birth Injury Lawyer Near You Today
If your child was diagnosed with tetraplegic cerebral palsy and you need help filing a claim against your doctor or hospital, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group immediately. Do not let the cost of your child’s ongoing care and therapy determine which treatments they receive.
Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at 1-800-222-9529 to get connected with an attorney in your state who will hold the right parties responsible and make sure finances do not stand in the way of your child’s needed medical care.