Medical Malpractice and Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a neurological condition and a movement disorder. While it affects the muscles, Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the areas of the brain that control muscle tone and movement, not by damage to the muscles themselves.
There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy; it is a permanent disability that can be caused by medical malpractice before, during, or after childbirth.
Medical errors that cause the infant to suffer from lack of oxygen, bleeding, head trauma or other birth injuries are among the causes of Cerebral Palsy.
The attorneys at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, PC, are experienced in birth injury cases involving Cerebral Palsy, hypoxia, Erb's Palsy, Klumpke's Palsy and shoulder dystocia. If your child has Cerebral Palsy or has experienced developmental delays, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with us. We can review your case to determine whether you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim and recover financial compensation.
There are different classifications of Cerebral Palsy. The four most common types of Cerebral Palsy are:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy - this is the most common type of Cerebral Palsy, accounting for 70 - 80% of Cerebral Palsy cases. Spastic Cerebral Palsy keeps muscles too stiff, which often results in involuntary muscle spasms.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - this type of Cerebral Palsy is rare, and is characterized by weak muscles. Motor skills and balance are greatly affected by this type of Cerebral Palsy.
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy - this form of Cerebral Palsy is characterized by slow and uncontrolled movement. People with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy often have trouble holding themselves in an upright, steady position for sitting or walking. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy can result from brain damage caused by untreated, high bilirubin levels in newborn infants (kernicterus).
Mixed Cerebral Palsy - Mixed Cerebral Palsy is a combination of symptoms of different types of Cerebral Palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Depending on the severity of the brain damage, symptoms of and problems related to Cerebral Palsy range from mild to severe and may include:
- Abnormal muscle tone — either too floppy or too rigid
- Abnormal muscle movement
- Lack of muscle coordination that can affect the ability to walk, draw, write or button a shirt
- Developmental delays — failure to meet milestones for controlling the head, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, talking, etc.
- Learning disabilities
- Speech problems
- Seizures
- Vision or hearing problems
- Mental retardation
Our lawyers recently obtained $58.3 million in a jury verdict for the parents of boy born with Cerebral Palsy after a doctor failed to perform a timely C-Section. This is the largest medical malpractice verdict in Connecticut history.
Don't Give Up Your Rights
If you believe your child may have suffered any type of birth injury, it is essential to contact us as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and options. You have a limited period of time in which to file a birth injury claim. Don't risk losing your right to pursue financial compensation.
From offices in Bridgeport, Stamford, Danbury and New Haven, Connecticut, our medical malpractice lawyers represent clients throughout the state.
