Tag: cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy and Anesthesia

What is Cerebral Palsy

Anesthesia is traditionally used to take away feeling of pain or distress. During painful procedures anesthesia is regularly used to numb the pain, but there have been other cases that proved it did more harm than it did good.

There are several different kinds of anesthesia and the kind that is used during surgery depends upon the patient and the procedure being done. The types of anesthesia that are commonly used are:

  • Local anesthesia
  • Regional anesthesia
  • Epidural and spinal anesthesia
  • General anesthesia

When a patient is in labor, the epidural anesthesia is typically used. A local anesthetic is injected by the spinal cord and the nerves that are connected to it when an epidural is given. The entire body, particularly the abdomen, the hips and the legs are blocked from the pain for this reason.

Cerebral Palsy is Caused by Anesthesia How?

Researchers proved that after an epidural is given, the fetal heart rate can significantly drop. After a mother is given epidural anesthesia fetal distress of the baby can be the result. The exact cause of this is unknown by the researchers and doctors but they assume it is because the blood pressure of the mother is lowered therefore blood cannot be pumped into the uterus correctly so the adequate amount of oxygen is delivered to the unborn baby.

As previously stated, it is difficult for the muscles of the patient’s lower body’s arteries to keep the blood flowing adequately through the body due to the epidural anesthesia. When a patient receives anesthesia, the heart does not respond well to the body’s needs that are changing, especially during childbirth. As a result of the epidural anesthesia not being administered correctly, or due to the doctor’s negligence in monitoring the epidural, the baby could be born with cerebral palsy.

During labor and delivery when the epidural anesthesia is used the baby may experience periods of a slow heart rate and normally thus does not affect a healthy baby, it may be harmful to babies that are at high risk already for instance already suffering from another problem.

Cerebral Palsy Resulting from Anesthesia

As a result of the anesthesia’s strong effects, a baby can develop cerebral palsy due to the lack of oxygen it may be receiving during childbirth. The condition cerebral palsy affects parts of the body such as the brain, the body’s muscles and motor functions. The condition can be severe or mildly severe but however severe it is, it can be life changing. Treatments are available for those living with cerebral palsy because researchers have not yet found a cure for the condition.

You may know someone who has cerebral palsy due to an anesthesia mistake? If so, please contact us today to speak with an experienced cerebral palsy attorney who will better inform you about the legal options available to you and your loved ones.

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Cerebral Palsy Causes

When parents learn that their child has cerebral palsy, it can be very difficult for them. It’s a devastating and often debilitating condition with no cure and which generally requires a lifetime of treatment. There are estimates totaled at over 0,000 for a lifetime of treatment for cerebral palsy. The consequences of cerebral palsy can be overwhelming for families when they don’t know where to turn for assistance.

A cerebral palsy attorney may be someone to turn to, depending on the circumstances that caused the child’s condition.Families have legal rights and may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering if the cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice. If you suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy was due to a preventable birth injury, a cerebral palsy attorney can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal alternatives.

Is Medical Malpractice the Cause?

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy is given to thousands of babies born in the U.S. each year. The causes of cerebral palsy are not known yet evidence shows that brain damage that occurs during or after the birth process may result in this disability. Brain damage occuring during the birth process is often preventable by the medical staff being attentive and taking certain precautionary measures. Some of these precautions include:

  • Ensuring adequate oxygen supply to the fetus/infant during birthing
  • Diagnosing and treating maternal or fetal infections in a timely manner
  • Performing an emergency C-section as soon as necessary
  • Properly using delivery equipment such as vacuum extraction and forceps
  • Recognizing and immediately responding to signs of fetal distress

Brain damage and cerebral palsy may result from the failure to take any of these precautions.

When Should You Contact a Cerebral Palsy Attorney?

You should contact a cerebral palsy attorney if:

  • You had a particularly difficult labor and delivery
  • You had a C-section
  • Your child was born with the use of forceps or vacuum extraction
  • Your child needed resuscitation or suffered a seizure after birth
  • Your child had an infection such as meningitis
  • Your child had jaundice
  • Any other complications were suffered by you or your child during delivery

While these things do not automatically indicate that medical malpractice is to blame, they should nevertheless be properly evaluated by an experienced cerebral palsy attorney.

How a Cerebral Palsy Attorney Can Help

There are numerous ways a cerebral palsy attorney can help you and your family if you suspect that medical malpractice caused your child’s condition, including

  • Case evaluation – The process of determining whether medical malpractice is to blame is very complicated and requires special legal and medical knowledge.
  • Plan a course of action—If it is determined that medical malpractice did, in fact, cause your child’s condition, a cerebral palsy attorney can help you plan a course of action that may involve filing a lawsuit.
  • Legal rights and interests – Protecting your legal rights and interests is a key factor the cerebral pasy attorney will do. Your case may be negotiated or go to trial which ever is needed to ensure a fair and proper settlement.

To learn more or to schedule a free case evaluation, contact a cerebral palsy attorney today.

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Cerebral Palsy

The term cerebral palsy is slightly misleading in that it refers to a group of disorders, rather than a single disorder, caused by damage to the brain and marked by impaired movement and coordination. A diagnosis of cerebral palsy, ranging from mild to severe in nature, is given to one or two of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. each year.
Doctors are still trying to understand how brain damage causes cerebral palsy, but they do know that damage sustained at any point during fetal development, during birth or within the first months of the baby’s life may result in this debilitating condition. Also, research has shed light on factors that may increase the risk of cerebral palsy and, in some cases, the condition may be preventable.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

The major types of cerebral palsy include:

  • Spastic cerebral palsy—This is the most common type of cerebral palsy and is characterized by stiffening of the muscles. The child may find movement to be difficult becausae of a stiffening in both legs, all four limbs and the torso or one side of the body.
  • Athetoid cerebral palsy – This type of cerebral palsy is found in about 20 percent of the people with cerebral palsy. This type is characterized by slow, uncontrolled movements affecting the entire body.
  • Ataxic cerebral palsy – This type impairs balance and coordination and is the least common type.

A child that displays the signs and symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy has what is known as mixed cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy vary according to the child and severity of the condition, but may include:

  • Tremors
  • Lack of muscle coordination or difficulty with precise movement
  • Spasticity—that is, exaggerated reflexes and muscle stiffness
  • Excessively stiff or floppy muscles
  • Leg or foot dragging, uneven walking
  • Drooling or difficulty swallowing

In some cases, cerebral palsy is accompanied by mental retardation or other complications. Extensive treatment and the use of special equipment may be required in cases of severe cerebral palsy. On the other hand, those with mild cases of cerebral palsy may require minimal treatment or assistance.

Cerebral Palsy Causes and Risk Factors

Some of the known causes and risk factors for cerebral palsy include:

  • Preterm birth and low birth weight
  • Maternal and/or fetal infections
  • Oxygen deprivation
  • Abnormalities in brain development
  • Severe jaundice
  • Injury during the birthing process

Not all cases of cerebral palsy are preventable. Medical negligence or inadequate medical care may result in cerebral palsy which may have been prevented with proper precautions being taken.  If you think medical malpractice is a factor in your child’s cerebral palsy, contact a cerebral palsy lawyer today to discuss your legal options.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

Children who are experiencing signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy should undergo a medical evaluation to determine a diagnosis. Initially, the doctor will check for muscle tone, reflexes and movement then follow this up with tests that may include and MRI, CT scan and others.

Once a diagnosis of cerebral palsy has been determined, the child will typically be referred to a specialist to determine treatment options. Various treatments can help to manage this uncurable condition and improve the quality of life for a child with cerebral palsy. Common cerebral palsy treatments include:

  • Physical, occupational and/or speech therapy
  • Surgery
  • Medications

Assistive technologies such as railings, wheelchairs, and communication devices can also help children in their daily tasks. Enhanced functioning may be experienced by some cerebral palsy children with the help of visual and hearing aids, splints and braces. And research into cerebral palsy treatments is ongoing, revealing promising options like dolphin therapy and spacesuit therapy.

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This article is about finding a birth injury attorney to file a lawsuit to obtain compensation for brain damage that resulted from an injury to your child. This injury will have occurred sometime between the onset of labor and shortly after birth. The cut off point for classification of an injury as a birth injury would be the completion of the immediate post-birth ablutions and diagnoses. This period would be extended by any findings that required additional care, including jaundice.

 

Brain damage due to a birth injury usually means perinatal asphyxia or vacuum extractors. Usually, birth injuries are caused by an improper procedure. This is different than the cause of birth defects. Birth defects can occur at the moment of conception or at different times during gestation. Ask you doctor straight out whether your child’s condition is the result of a birth defect or a birth injury. Get as much info from your physician as you can get – and take notes.

 

Start a journal so you have a running record of your child’s condition and the child’s development. The wheels of justice grind slowly, and all that. So keep a record of everything, starting now. The type pf attorney you want would look like this in a hypertext links track: attorney / personal injury / birth injuries / brain damage.

 

Use a lawyer who at least specializes in birth injuries. A sub-specialization in brain injuries would be fine, but brain injuries account for half of all disabilities stemming from birth injuries, so an experienced birth injury attorney will also be an experienced attorney when it comes to brain damage.

 

Many jurisdictions put a dollar limit on the amount of legal damages a child sue for in the areas of pain, suffering, mental duress and emotional distress. Ask a prospective attorney what the case is in your state and, if so, will he/she advise suing for the maximum.

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