When Negligence Leads to Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) has always been an elusive condition. We know that it is mostly congenital, meaning something goes awry in the baby’s brain during a pregnancy. We also know that a certain percentage of CP cases are related to oxygen deprivation, untreated infections, problems with blood flow to the brain, or other potential acts of medical negligence. But in many cases, the cause of a child’s cerebral palsy is unknown.

When can an act of medical negligence lead to cerebral palsy?

There are different ways that a child can be injured during birth, and many of these can lead to a permanent condition like cerebral palsy. It is important to know as the parents, that it is not your fault and, instead, is usually the result of medical malpractice. Potential acts of medical negligence that lead to CP include:

• Allowing prolonged labor
• Failing to monitor and/or address excessive contractions caused by labor-inducing drugs like Pitocin
• Failing to recommend and/or perform a c-section for children who are too large to fit through the birth canal
• Failing to diagnose and treat maternal infections which can pass through the placenta and affect the fetus
• Misusing forceps or vacuum extractors, leading to skull factures and potential brain damage
• Failing to warn about the effects of certain prescription drugs on a fetus or baby

It can be indescribably difficult to learn that the way your baby was born will have a permanent impact on the rest of their lives. It is also difficult to deal with the knowledge that your trusted doctor was the cause of your child’s permanent impairment. If you fear that this is the case, you will need to contact a Las Vegas birth injury attorney.

Other birth injuries that can have life-altering repercussions

Cerebral palsy gets much attention, but there are other birth injuries that your baby can sustain during labor and delivery. We represent families whose children suffered permanent and/or catastrophic harm because of:

• Skull fractures and disfigurement: Labor and delivery cause physical trauma and some babies can experience trauma to their face and head during this process. A doctor may need to use forceps to deliver the baby, which can cause disfiguring lacerations or fractures.
• Brachial plexus palsy: This type of injury happens when the nerves in the hands and arms are injured, such as when there is an issue with delivering the baby’s shoulders. While the movement of the hands and arms may return in a few months, there can also be permanent nerve damage to the baby. It may require pediatric surgeries to fix.
• Caput succedaneum: The soft tissues of the baby’s scalp can experience swelling which happens as the baby travels through the birth canal. While this can go away in several days, some babies develop conditions like irreversible alopecia, and a dangerous buildup of bilirubin, leading to jaundice which, if left untreated, can lead to kernicterus, vision problems, abnormal tooth development and – yes – cerebral palsy.
• Facial paralysis: A baby can experience pressure on their facial nerve which can lead to paralysis. This is also caused when forceps are used incorrectly. One side of their face may be unable to move and their eyes do not close. Surgery may be required if the nerve was torn and cannot heal on its own.
• Cephalohematoma: This is bleeding between the scalp and the skull, and indicates broken blood vessels. This injury has a delay, as it can appear as a large bump on their head hours later. Healing can take anywhere from weeks to months, but complications can arise including increased risk of infection and jaundice. In some cases, cephalohematoma indicates a skull fracture.

If your baby was injured before, during, or after labor and delivery, they may suffer for the rest of their life. When that birth injury was the result of medical negligence, we may be able to help. Call Claggett & Sykes Law Firm at 702-333-7777, or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation. We have offices in Reno and Las Vegas to better serve you.