Cerebral palsy due to medical error

On Behalf of | Jan 8, 2018 | Serious Personal Injury

Parents in Hawaii who have a child with cerebral palsy may choose to take legal action against the healthcare team if it is suspected the injury is due to medical error. Cerebral palsy is one of the more common types of birth injuries, and the symptoms can vary from mild to serious.

According to the Mayo Clinic, cerebral palsy occurs when there is damage to the brain, typically occurring before birth or during the labor process. Symptoms of CP may be detectable shortly after birth, or they may take a few years to show up. Signs can vary greatly, but common movement issues include:

  • Muscle tone abnormalities
  • Ataxia
  • Walking issues
  • Speech development delays
  • Rigidity or spasticity
  • One-side favoritism
  • Tremors or seizures
  • Challenges with eating or swallowing 

Children with cerebral palsy often show signs of neurological damage. This can show up in different ways such as psychiatric conditions, hearing or vision issues, urinary incontinence, abnormal pain perceptions or intellectual difficulties.

According to FindLaw, there are a number of potential causes of cerebral palsy at birth. These include:

  • Prescription drug use by the mom during pregnancy
  • Premature birth
  • Brain bleeding due to head injury caused by pelvic bone pressure, forceps use or other cause
  • Lack of oxygen to the baby caused by doctor’s inability to recognize need, a caesarian section or other factor related to a difficult labor

Any birth injury is terribly hard to deal with, and it is especially hard when it is caused by something that could have been prevented. If the injury was due to a medical mistake, parents are encouraged to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer.