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:
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.
Mail this postWhen 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:
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:
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
To learn more or to schedule a free case evaluation, contact a cerebral palsy attorney today.
Mail this postThe 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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
Mail this postThis 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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