Causes of Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Cerebral palsy, or CP, may be caused by any one of a number of factors that interfere with the development of an infant’s brain prior to the infant’s birth or by brain injuries that occur during the first months or years of an infant’s life. The exact causes of many cases of CP are unknown. Though many children are stricken with CP despite having received the best of care by healthcare providers both before and after birth, others suffer from this life-long condition as a result of medical malpractice.

Birth injury lawyer Jeffrey Killino has extensive experience with birth injury cases involving cerebral palsy caused by medical malpractice. If you suspect your child’s CP was caused by medical negligence during your pregnancy, labor, or delivery, contact attorney Killino at 877-412-8490 for a cost-free evaluation of your case and additional information about your legal rights and options.

h2>Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Negligence

Up to ninety percent of CP cases are thought to occur as a result of brain damage suffered before or during childbirth (known as congenital CP). A physician’s negligent failure to diagnose, manage, or treat pregnancy conditions that increase the risk of such brain damage or other negligence during labor and delivery may be considered a cause of an infant’s CP in a medical malpractice action.

  • Negligence during pregnancy

A number of maternal infections during pregnancy may cause an infant’s CP if not timely diagnosed and treated, including rubella (German measles), chicken pox, placental infections, maternal pelvic infections, and cytomegalovirus. The negligent failure to diagnose and treat an Rh incompatibility between mother and child can also cause an infant’s CP. Obstetricians and other healthcare providers may also be found to have negligently caused an infant’s CP by failing to timely diagnose and manage placental abruption, umbilical cord compression, or other complications that compromise fetal oxygen during the mother’s pregnancy.

  • Negligence during or immediately after childbirth

Negligence of medical personnel during labor and delivery can also cause a child’s congenital CP. Brain damage resulting in CP may be sustained by negligent use of forceps or vacuum devices to assist a difficult delivery. Though considered to be responsible for a small percentage of CP cases, brain damage caused by a deprivation of oxygen during labor and delivery may also lead to an infant’s CP. This may occur, for example, due to negligent monitoring of maternal and fetal vital signs; negligent failure to diagnose and manage umbilical cord prolapse, umbilical compression, or placental abruption; or negligent use of medications during labor.

Medical negligence following childbirth can also cause an infant’s CP. The negligent failure to diagnose and treat severe jaundice, for instance, may lead to kernicterus, a condition that can, in turn, lead to CP. Brain damage caused by the negligent handling of an infant following childbirth (such as dropping or failing to timely resuscitate the infant) may also be found to have caused a child’s CP.

Contact Us

If your child suffers from CP due to medical malpractice during your pregnancy, labor, or delivery, birth injury and cerebral palsy lawyer Jeffrey Killino can help you obtain the justice you and your child deserve. Contact attorney Killino at 877-412-8490 for dedicated and compassionate assistance with your child’s cerebral palsy case.