Cerebral Palsy May Not Present Itself Until Up to Three Years After Birth
Aug 10, 2012
Cleveland, OH (Law Firm Newswire) August 9, 2012 – Parents who suspect their child has a birth defect may qualify for assistance.
“For parents with a child who has cerebral palsy, it is difficult to know if it was the result of negligence at birth because, neurologically speaking, symptoms of cerebral palsy may not manifest until later in a child’s life. This permanent birth injury is a life-altering event that impacts the whole family unit,” said Christopher Mellino, a Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer with Mellino Robenalt LLC, Ohio.
Cerebral palsy is one of the most serious and devastating birth injuries that may happen to a baby during labor and delivery. More often than not, it is caused by a number of factors that range from head trauma to lack of oxygen to infections to premature delivery. Roughly 70 percent of children who are ultimately diagnosed with cerebral palsy acquired it as the result of some event prior to birth that disrupted normal brain development.
“Without a doubt, the kind of medical care required for a cerebral palsy victim is staggering, running into millions of dollars. Without help, many families would not be able to survive or function effectively. If the palsy is the direct result of medical negligence, the family has the legal right to receive compensation to care for their child,” Mellino advised.
The most important thing for parents to note is that cerebral palsy may not be noticed at birth. It may take months or years for symptoms to manifest. Typically, if it is present, the symptoms will be evident within three years. This gradual realization is difficult for parents, especially when they suspect the cerebral palsy is due to medical malpractice.
“The length of time this injury takes to show itself presents a very real problem to the child’s family. There is a statute of limitations that says if they wait too long, they lose their chance to recover damages. Additionally, every state has a different statute, with different rules applicable to filing and different time limits for doing so. If you suspect something is wrong with your child, you need to speak to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as you can,” suggested Mellino.
To learn more or to contact a Cleveland Medical Malpractice attorney or Cleveland malpractice attorney, visit http://www.christophermellino.com.
Mellino Robenalt LLC
200 Public Sq., Suite 2900
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Call: (216) 241-1901
