Birth Injury
Understanding the Impact of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a birth injury that affects one out of every 323 babies born, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Problems can arise before or during labor, and what may seem like a small mistake can cause a lifetime of disability for the child.
Cerebral Palsy is usually caused by restricted oxygen flow to the infant. Whether it’s due to the baby’s size or a twisting of the umbilical cord, it is the job of the doctor to identify this problem efficiently and quickly so the proper steps can be taken. If lack of oxygen or another contributing factor was never identified, or identified and not properly treated, then the injury may be the liability of the doctor or supervising medical staff. It is unfair for a family to assume complete responsibility for a child’s lifelong care if the injury was due to medical negligence.
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Seeking Compensation for Cerebral Palsy Caused by Birth Injuries
Cerebral palsy is a group of chronic disorders that affect control of movement that begin to appear in the first years of life. It is a condition that directly affects the nerves that regulate the muscles and body control. Victims of cerebral palsy may experience difficulties with fine motor tasks and issues with maintaining balance. Each case is different, but it is common for those suffering from cerebral palsy to face a lifetime of medical, emotional, educational, and social challenges.
Cerebral palsy is a birth injury that often occurs due to oxygen deprivation at birth. It occurs when oxygen is cut off to the unborn baby. In some cases, this could occur because of the twisting of the umbilical cord. Others may suffer from oxygen deprivation during a breach delivery. These tragic birth injuries are often preventable with proper fetal monitoring.
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Causes and Prevention of Cerebral Palsy in Oklahoma
Cerebral palsy is a medical condition that affects muscle control in children and babies. The development of the condition can take place before, during, and after birth. Genetic conditions and problems with getting enough blood supply to the child can take place within the first six months of pregnancy which may cause the brain to develop abnormally. Medical care in Oklahoma providers who fail to properly care for a mother before and during pregnancy and an infant’s birth can also contribute to the onset of cerebral palsy. Other causes occur after the brain has already developed and can be due to bacterial meningitis and other types of infections, severe jaundice, head injury, lack of oxygen, and bleeding in the brain. Additionally, children in Oklahoma who are born prematurely with a birth weight of less than 3 ½ pounds may be more susceptible to developing cerebral palsy.
Many birth injuries like cerebral palsy can be prevented; however, once developed, there is no cure. With the help of physical therapy, occupational therapy, medications, surgeries, and braces, many people who have cerebral palsy can lead relatively normal lives, depending on which part of their brain is affected by the condition.
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How Does an Oklahoma Birth Injury Occur?
Oklahoma birth injuries may be sustained for a variety of reasons. Birth injuries are very serious and can permanently alter a child’s life, as well as their parents, who must now care for the injured child as well as heavy financial burdens that are associated with the birth injury. Many birth injuries occur when a medical professional is negligent, either during the pre-natal care of the mother, the actual birth or after-birth care of the child.
Doctors, physicians, and nurses are trusted by patients to do everything in their power to ensure a child’s healthy birth. However, situations can arise where a medical professional may not adhere completely to their responsibilities. For example, the prenatal care of the mother, such as the prescription of medication that may cause an adverse affect, can result in a birth injury to the child in conjunction with any injury that the mother sustains. Another situation where an Oklahoma birth injury could potentially occur is if an unnecessary cesarean section was performed. Some additional birth injuries that can occur because of medical professional negligence include, but are not limited to:
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Cerebral Palsy Causes and Development
Every parent looks forward to the birth of their child. They assume that the physicians and hospital staff assigned to their care have the best interests of the mother and baby at heart. Unfortunately, medical negligence on the parts of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals can contribute to neurological disorders that can have a lasting effect on not only the baby, but the entire family. Cerebral palsy is one of these conditions.
Cerebral palsy affects the cerebrum and can occur during pregnancy, during childbirth or after the birth up to approximately the age of three. It is a non-progressive affliction which means that the condition itself will not improve or worsen; however, it may lead to other disorders. There are several causes of the condition such as asphyxia before birth due to umbilical cord entrapment, exposure to radiation or infection while still in the womb, trauma during labor and delivery, and shoulder distocia, to name a few. In cases where a child is entrapped by the umbilical cord or develops shoulder distocia, the primary care physician has an extremely limited time to act before cells in the baby’s brain begin to die and the chances of developing cerebral palsy increase.
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Understanding the Extent of Birth Injuries in Oklahoma
Ideally, all expectant mothers should conclude their pregnancy with the delivery of a healthy, beautiful baby. Unfortunately, the negligence of medical professionals can devastate this hope and cause a newborn infant to suffer injuries that could have otherwise been prevented through additional precautions and extended prenatal care.
A birth injury in Oklahoma consists of any form of harm that occurs as an infant is being delivered through the birth canal of its mother. Birth injuries can range in severity from mild injuries, including bruises on an infant’s skull, to more severe injuries, including cerebral palsy, brain hemorrhaging, and even infant mortality in certain cases.
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