Every expectant parent hopes and wishes for a healthy child. Many expectant mothers go to great lengths to offer their unborn child the best opportunities for health as they grow and develop. This typically includes prenatal care, extra vitamins, appropriate exercise and even a careful diet.
It only takes a few minutes of medical neglect or one serious mistake by a doctor or nurse during birth to cause your child to develop a severe, lifelong condition such as cerebral palsy. If your child was born with cerebral palsy and you believe it is linked to your labor experience, you need to speak with an attorney.
Sometimes, cerebral palsy develops earlier, en utero. Thankfully, medical science has progressed to a point where a skilled physician should be able to determine when the injury occurred. One of the best ways to ensure accuracy about this information is to seek an outside opinion.
Your personal injury and medical malpractice attorney can connect you with a specialist who is able to determine if the injury responsible for your child’s cerebral palsy occurred during pregnancy or during labor and delivery. That, in turn, can help you decide what your next step should be.
Cerebral palsy will impact your family for life
There is no cure or even treatment for cerebral palsy. The condition is a result of brain damage, often caused by lack of oxygen. In many infants, cerebral palsy symptoms won’t be immediately obvious. Instead, it will become noticeable over time as your child fails to hit critical developmental milestones on time. You may notice delays in motor development specifically, such as issues with rolling over, crawling or walking. Often, the infant will reach several years of age before the symptoms of the condition are obvious enough to warrant a diagnosis.
Children with cerebral palsy often need ongoing medical care, nursing and interventions or accommodations. With sufficient support and physical therapy, many children with cerebral palsy can become physically and socially independent. Your family, however, will incur substantial expenses for care. Between medical bills, lost wages as a parent provides care for the child, and other issues, cerebral palsy can make your life complicated. Working with an attorney if your child’s cerebral palsy was the result of a birth injury is often the best way to protect your family’s financial future.
Your attorney can protect your family and help you recover
Your child will always have cerebral palsy, and your family will always need to accommodate that. However, with the help of an experienced personal injury and medical malpractice attorney, you can recover your financial losses and offset the impact of the birth injury on your family’s future. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy or if you suspect he or she will soon be, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible about your options.
