Medical Malpractice and Cerebral Palsy

In the United States cerebral palsy occurs in approximately 4 live births per 1,000. While we expect our medical professionals to provide the highest standard of care, there are many occasions when doctors and hospitals make negligent errors that result in devastating life-long conditions.

Below are just a few medical malpractice errors that lead to cerebral palsy (NOTE: additional medical mistakes may not be on this list):

• Failure to respond to mother’s vital signs, such as high blood pressure, and distress signs
• Failure to perform a timely cesarean section
• Forceful use of birthing tools such as forceps or a vacuum
• Failure to detect the umbilical cord wrapped around a baby’s neck cutting off oxygen to the brain
• Failure to properly monitor the baby’s heart rate, oxygen flow and other important factors
• Failure to recognize and adequately treat seizures following delivery
• Failure to identify potential problems or birth defects during pregnancy
• Failure to deliver the baby in a timely manner
• Administration of excessive amount of labor inducing medication
• Failure to respond appropriately to complications at birth
• Failure to properly manage labor and delivery
• Failure to identify/treat fetal and/or maternal distress or complications during the perinatal period
• Failure to identify and treat fetal distress
• Failure to properly assess the mother and/or baby’s vital signs
• Failure to diagnose jaundice or meningitis
• Failure to properly manage labor and delivery timing
• Failure to identify the necessity for a Cesarean section
• Failure to respond to any potential complications or trauma appropriately
• Failure to appropriately manage the labor and delivery to avoid complications

Call us at 202.243.0581 or contact us online to have our physicians and surgical malpractice attorneys evaluate your case.

We represent clients nationwide with the assistance of co-counsel where permitted.

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