One of the most devastating types of brain injuries that can take place at birth is cerebral palsy. If you believe that your child’s spastic cerebral palsy was a result of medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. While no amount of money can undo the injury that your child has suffered, the money can help pay for the child’s medical expenses. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore cerebral palsy lawyers can handle the legal battle on your behalf and help retain persuasive medical experts to support your case.
Consequences of Spastic Cerebral PalsySpastic cerebral palsy (CP) refers to increased tone or tension in a muscle and can be caused by damage to the brain’s motor cortex during birth. The condition is characterized by still and permanently contracted (or paralyzed) limbs. Individuals with spastic cerebral palsy may be paralyzed in just one or two limbs or in all four. As a result, the condition can inhibit several things, such as normal motions in body movement, longitudinal muscle growth, and protein synthesis in muscle cells, and it can affect normal growth in children. It is the most common form of cerebral palsy. Approximately one in 5,000 babies is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and approximately 70 to 80 percent of cerebral palsy cases are spastic.
Cerebral palsy can be caused by events before, during, or after the birth. The primary causes of cerebral palsy in newborns are lack of oxygen flow to the brain, trauma to the baby’s head, bleeding in the brain, and infections acquired during birth. Many times, cerebral palsy is preventable if the cause is a lack of oxygen during labor and if it is treated by a timely C-section before the brain is permanently affected. However, about 10 percent of children born with cerebral palsy suffered from medical malpractice. In other words, one in every 10 children with cerebral palsy has the condition because of a preventable medical error.
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes injuries by failing to use the level of care that a reasonably competent medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. Physicians are trained to recognize and treat conditions that could lead to cerebral palsy. For example, if the baby comes out and has experienced oxygen deprivation, the doctor often can still prevent cerebral palsy, but timing is critical. If the baby has experienced oxygen deprivation, and the doctor fails to respond to the condition, that doctor will likely be liable for any resulting harm.
While people living with spastic cerebral palsy can participate in physical therapy to manage the disease, there is no cure. Typically, complex medical treatments are used to help people deal with the condition. In short, caring for a child with cerebral palsy is expensive, and depending on the severity of the condition, a child may require lifelong care. This is why Illinois law allows plaintiffs to recover damages for their harm, such as medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, costs of future care, and any other costs associated with the malpractice. While our attorneys’ goal is to settle each case in an appropriate manner, we are not afraid to vigorously advocate for your rights at trial if necessary.
Consult a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Baltimore About Your Child’s InjuriesIf you believe that your child’s spastic cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice, you may be able to take legal action against the at-fault party. Our attorneys help families who have been unjustly afflicted with the hardships caused by this type of birth injury recover the compensation that they deserve for their child’s harm. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to providing compassionate and vigorous legal representation in cases involving spastic, ataxic, or hemiplegic cerebral palsy at every step of the way. We represent people throughout the Baltimore area and elsewhere in Maryland. To speak to a member of our team, contact our office today by calling us at 410-889-1850 or reaching us via our website.