Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by improper brain development. The condition renders children unable to control their muscles. A child who has cerebral palsy may have difficulty speaking, may drool excessively, may be unable to walk, may suffer from involuntary movements, and more. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that most cases of cerebral palsy are related to brain damage that occurred before or during birth (85 to 90 percent). While not common, medical malpractice may cause cerebral palsy.

What causes cerebral palsy?

According to the Mayo Clinic, any number of factors that disrupt the development of the brain can cause cerebral palsy. However, the specific trigger that disrupts the development of the brain is not always understood. Some potential factors that could lead to problems in brain development, leading to cerebral palsy, include the following listed below.

  • Random gene mutations
  • An infection in the mother that affects the fetus
  • A lack of blood supply to the fetus’s brain
  • A lack of oxygen to the fetus’s brain, known as fetal asphyxia
  • An infection in the fetus’s or infant’s brain causing inflammation
  • A traumatic brain injury to an infant

Can medical malpractice cause cerebral palsy?

Medical malpractice, in some cases, may contribute to the development of cerebral palsy. For example, a fetus who is suffering from fetal hypoxia demands emergency attention. If, during gestation, labor, or delivery, fetal hypoxia goes undetected, the baby may develop cerebral palsy. Or, if fetal hypoxia is detected, but is not appropriately treated (i.e. performing an emergency cesarean section), then the baby may suffer from cerebral palsy as a result.

It is critical that physicians exercise a high standard of care when treating a pregnant woman, or when delivering a baby. If physicians do not exercise this standard of care, the woman or the baby may experience harm.

How a Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help You

Cerebral palsy is a devastating condition. If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy would not have occurred but for an act of medical malpractice, the birth injury attorneys at the Montero Law Center want to meet with you. We can provide you with the guidance you need regarding how to prove medical malpractice, what damages your family can collect, how to file a suit, and more. Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation at 954-767-6500.