Phoenix Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that affects coordination, movement, speech, and various bodily functions. It is often the result of some type of birth injury to the brain during delivery of the baby. Many cerebral palsy cases are preventable and are the result of improper surgical procedures or care during the birthing process. When this occurs, it may entitle the child suffering from the condition to recover damages from the doctor or hospital responsible for the medical error in a medical malpractice law suit if it can be shown that a reasonable standard of care was not provided before, during, or after the delivery. A Phoenix cerebral palsy lawyer at the Knapp & Roberts law firm specializes in these situation and can help you recover those damages.

Some common medical errors in Arizona that may result in birth injuries and cerebral palsy include:

• Failure to identify and treat Rh incompatibility
• Failure to identify and treat infection or STD in mother or baby
• Prescribing of inappropriate drugs during pregnancy
• Administering too much Pitocin to induce or stimulate labor
• Failure to monitor mother and/or baby properly
• Failure to deliver a distressed baby by C- section
• Failure to identify insufficient oxygen to a baby
• Improper forceps or vacuum extraction
• Failure to treat severe jaundice

How Will Cerebral Palsy Affect a Child’s Life in Phoenix?

Cerebral palsy can limit a child’s ability to function and enjoy life in various ways. Deficits caused by the condition include these and others:

• Inability to walk normally
• Poor coordination with limited motor skills
• Paralysis
• Impaired speech
• Drooling
• Impaired hearing
• Seizures
• Incontinence
• Cognitive disabilities

How Often Does Cerebral Palsy Occur?

Cerebral palsy is second only to autism as a cause of disability in children. Although the incidence of the condition varies by geographical region, it affects between 2.9 and 3.8 out of every 10000 children in the United States.

What Signs May Indicate that a Child Will Have Cerebral Palsy

If the delivery delayed more than 24 hours after membranes ruptured, the baby was transferred to intensive care, or an MRI was ordered, it may indicate concern that your child suffered brain damage at birth. Signs to be aware of in your baby include:

• Seizures in the first week of life
• Failure of the baby to breathe immediately after birth
• Poor muscle tone
• Blue appearance
• Meconium staining
• Difficulty sucking
• Difficulty maintaining body temperature

If your child demonstrates any of these conditions, or if your doctor orders tests, procedures, or treatment other than you would expect in a typical birth situation, you might have reason for concern that brain damage has occurred. If you suspect this is the case, you should consult a Phoenix medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible who will call upon medical specialists to review your and the child’s medical records. It might be necessary to have your child examined by a pediatric neurologist to determine if there is brain damage and if so, the extent of it.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

A child born with cerebral palsy will usually have a long and difficult battle to achieve anything approaching a normal life, and many victims will suffer a lifetime of often painful impairments. It is important to diagnose the condition early on and begin appropriate interventions as soon as possible. Depending on the severity and the manner in which the child is affected, treatments often include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, mental health counseling, special education in the Phoenix schooling system, and surgery. You may also need special medical equipment such as leg braces, crutches, or wheelchair.

The Legal Help You Need to Recover Compensation for Your Child

To give your child the best possible chance at a meaningful and productive life, you will need to have the financial resources to provide a lifetime of medical care, therapy, and special services. It is imperative that you and your child are compensated for present and future medical expenses, along with your child’s pain, suffering, disability, and diminished of quality of life. This will require the services of a skilled Phoenix injury attorney with extensive experience in birth injury cases to battle for your child’s future.

Why Choose our Firm?

If you have learned or suspect that your child has cerebral palsy and that it was caused by a medical error at birth, contact the Phoenix, Arizona, law firm of Knapp & Roberts for compassionate, skilled, and aggressive representation against the doctor, hospital, or other health care provider responsible for the injury, to ensure that your child will never lack the best care available. Call today, or fill out our free online form, and one of our skilled attorneys will speak with you. The earlier we get started, the sooner your child will have the resources available for the care he or she requires.