New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney | Monmouth County | Ronald W. SageNew Jersey Personal Injury Attorney | Monmouth County | Ronald W. Sage
New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney | Monmouth County | Ronald W. Sage
Freehold Personal Injury Lawyer and Manasquan Malpractice Attorney
TwitterGoogle+FacebookYouTube
(732) 547-2944
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Practice Areas
    • Automobile Accidents
    • Birth Injuries
    • Construction Accidents
    • Dog Bites
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Personal Injury
    • Slip and Fall
    • Wrongful Death
    • Workers Compensation Attorney
  • Video FAQ
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Awards
  • Reviews
  • Contact
    • Map & Directions
Menu back  
 

Cerebral Palsy Resulting from Birth Injury Negligence

cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affects the child’s ability to control movements such as mental retardation, impairment of speech, hearing or sight, seizures, muscle spasms or tightness, or involuntary movement.

Statistics on Cerebral Palsy

  • 5,000 children are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy each year;
  • Approximately 1,300 preschoolers are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy each year
  • Cerebral Palsy, on average occurs 1.2 times more frequently in boys than among girls
  • Estimated 500,000 people in the U.S. have Cerebral Palsy.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy results from an injury to the largest portion of the brain called the cerebrum which can be damaged before, during, or even after birth. It is involved with higher mental faculties, sensations, and voluntary muscle movements.

The most significant birthing complication related to Cerebral Palsy is the lack of oxygen to the brain. Without oxygen, the baby’s brain cells start to die resulting in brain damage called “severe asphyxia”.

This can happen when:

  • The umbilical cord restricts the baby’s breathing;
  • The child becomes stuck in the birth canal or the placenta is ruptured prematurely; or
  • The baby does not begin to breathe immediately following birth.

Other risk factors include:

  • Infection during the mother’s pregnancy
  • Jaundice in the infant that can damage the infant’s brain cells; and
  • Rh incompatibility by the mother’s body that can lead to the production of antibodies which destroys the fetus’s blood cells
  • Head or blood vessel injuries.
  • Fetal Distress – Complications during labor and delivery, such as vascular or respiratory problems of the baby during labor and delivery may result in brain damage causing permanent brain damage
  • Breech presentation – Babies that present feet first, instead of head first, at the beginning of labor are at a higher risk of developing Cerebral Palsy.
  • Multiple births
  • Maternal bleeding or severe proteinuria late in pregnancy
  • Maternal hyperthyroidism, mental retardation, or seizures increase the risk for Cerebral Palsy.
  • The mother’s water was ruptured for over 24 hours
  • There were indications of trauma or infection during the pregnancy
  • There is a family history brain damage

When these or other warning signs are present, doctors and health care providers should take immediate steps to properly monitor the unborn baby, to treat the cause of any complication that has arisen, and, where necessary, to deliver the baby (usually by C-section).

Once the baby is born, there are additional risk factors that indicate the baby is at risk of having or developing cerebral palsy and should be closely monitored and treated. They might also suggest improper medical care, or trauma to the baby’s brain during the birthing process. These include:

  • Low birth weight
  • Premature birth
  • The baby suffers from multiple seizures
  • The baby exhibits nervous system deformities
  • The baby has trouble sucking and swallowing
  • The baby shows an indication of weakness or abnormal muscle tone
  • The baby needs resuscitation at, or shortly after birth due to lack of oxygen
  • The baby shows signs of apnea
  • The baby shows lack of concern or interaction
  • The baby is incapable of maintaining normal temperature

If your son or daughter has cerebral palsy and you believe that your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider failed to provide suitable care during the pregnancy, during labor and delivery, or after the delivery of your baby, contact the Law Offices of Ron W. Sage PA at  (732) 547-2944 today!

This informational blog was provided by Ronald W. Sage, an experienced New Jersey Birth Injury Attorney.

Share this post
FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterest
Related posts
Should I Obtain a Lawyer if I Get Hurt on Someone Else’s Property?
December 21, 2015
Knowing If I Have a New Jersey Medical Malpractice Case
December 14, 2015
Determining a Case upon Being Attacked by a Dog
December 7, 2015
Do I Have a Case if I Tripped and Fell on a Sidewalk?
November 30, 2015
Bradley Beach Workers Compensation Lawyer Discusses Suing for Injuries if You are Hurt on the Job
November 23, 2015
New Jersey Medical Malpractice Attorney
November 16, 2015
Leave Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

clear formSubmit

video vault template-Recovered
Contact Attorney Ronald W. Sage
client testimonials
Ron Sage Avvo Rating
Ron Sage Avvo Rating
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. These materials have been prepared by The Law Offices of Ronald W. Sage for general informational purposes only and are not intended and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. Every case is unique. The information contained in this website is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship nor is it intended to substitute for the advice of an attorney. Website Users should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. This website constitutes Attorney Advertising. | Privacy Policy | © 2017 Law Offices of Ronald W. Sage - All Rights Reserved.