Medical Malpractice May Cause Cerebral Palsy
Feb 16, 2013
Cleveland, OH (Law Firm Newswire) February 15, 2013 – Cerebral palsy is an extremely serious birth injury. If the cause is medical negligence, someone must be held accountable.
“Cerebral palsy is one of the most devastating birth injuries a child may encounter. It affects not only the child’s life, but the whole family. If the palsy was the direct result of medical malpractice, then the doctor or hospital care givers must be held accountable for their actions,” stated Christopher Mellino, a Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer.
Cerebral palsy is the result of abnormal brain development, often as a result of damage to the brain. This sometimes happens during the development of the fetus, but more often happens during labor, when the baby is being born, after birth, or within the first few years of the child’s life. “This is not a muscular issue in origin,” added Mellino, “it is an issue relating to damage to areas of the brain that control muscle coordination, and that often includes the ability to sit properly.”
What are the causes of cerebral palsy? “There are a variety of causes. For instance, not enough oxygen to the baby’s brain, premature delivery, certain types of infections (rubella, herpes simplex), severe untreated jaundice, and traumatic brain injury,” Mellino outlined. “The impact on the family is enormous, mentally, emotionally and financially, as care for a child with cerebral palsy runs into the millions.”
If a child was born with cerebral palsy, as the direct result of medical negligence, the family has a right to sue for financial compensation for the staggering costs they face in the future. And there are various forms of cerebral palsy that may range from mild to severe that are the result of injury to a particular part of the brain. They include dyskinetic, mixed, ataxic and spastic cerebral palsy. The specific form of palsy a child may have is determined by a series of tests that may include an MRI, CT scan, blood tests, and hearing and vision tests.
“If you have any suspicion that your child may have cerebral palsy, do not wait. Take your child to a doctor and then speak to a competent medical malpractice lawyer with experience in birth injury cases right away. You need to do this prior to the statute of limitations running out,” added Mellino.
To learn more or to contact a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney, or visit http://www.mellinorobenalt.com.
Mellino Robenalt LLC
200 Public Sq., Suite 2900
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Call: (216) 241-1901
