Miami Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
Fighting the Difficulties of Permanent Brain Damage
Cerebral is the scientific word for "brain." Palsy is a medical term for "paralysis." This means cerebral palsy is partial “brain paralysis.” The paralysis in the brain affects the muscles, leading to either a partial or total paralysis of various muscle groups. This means cerebral palsy is a disorder affecting a portion of brain matter, resulting in motor skill deficiencies.
Generally speaking, there are three kinds of cerebral palsy disorders:
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Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy that affects the limbs of the body, causing stiffness and motor difficulties. -
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy that caused involuntary, uncontrollable, and abnormal movements. -
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy that affects a person’s sense of balance, depth perception, and ability to walk.
Cerebral palsy can occur when an infant is in the womb, being birthed, or in the period shortly after. The cause is a malformation of brain matter that either develops within the child or is triggered by a birth injury. Some doctors believe the maternal infection is the cause of cerebral palsy while others say brain injuries account for most cerebral palsy cases.
Signs of Cerebral Palsy
There are various signs that an infant is affected by cerebral palsy.
However, the main cerebral palsy symptoms relate to improper muscular abilities such as:
- Spastic movement
- Irregular reflexes
- Lack of muscle control
- Slow, writhing movements
- Missed developmental milestones
- Difficulty performing ordinary movement
- Inability to walk normally
Confirming Cerebral Palsy Through Tests
As little is known about cerebral palsy, one test can never be entirely conclusive.
However, there are tests medical staff can conduct to assess if a child has cerebral palsy:
- Blood testing
- Cranial ultrasounds
- Cognitive assessments
- Medical observations
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Evaluation of activities (ex: mobility)
Medical Malpractice Leading to Cerebral Palsy
While cerebral palsy can develop for no known reason, medical malpractice during birth is one of the leading causes. Nothing is worse than a child becoming permanently affected due to the negligence of a birthing doctor.
Examples of medical malpractice that can lead to an infant having cerebral palsy include:
- Medical decisions that leave an infant deprived of oxygen for an extended period
- A delivery doctor or nurse dropping the baby on the floor
- A delivery doctor forcing an infant’s head out of the vaginal canal
- A delivery doctor incorrectly using a delivery instrument (forceps, vacuum extraction)
Medical Necessities of an Infant with Cerebral Palsy
This is a short list of what parents of a child with cerebral palsy must provide for a healthy life:
- Accessories (wheelchairs, walkers, braces)
- Speech, motor, and other forms of therapy
- Special educational accommodations
- Licensed in-home care
Fighting for Financial Compensation for Cerebral Palsy
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, you and your child have the right to seek full and fair financial compensation. A birthing doctor’s job is to make sure you and your child are taken care of. When malpractice causes your infant to sustain brain injuries that result in cerebral palsy, it is a life-changing situation causing significant emotional trauma and unbearable financial burden. However, our birth injury attorneys can help. With over a century of law practice, Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, P.A. is a firm that gets results. We are dedicated to keeping our caseload light so we can maximize our time with our clients. We have recovered millions on behalf of clients like you.
To receive a free consultation concerning your case, call us at (305) 770-6335.