A diagnosis of cerebral palsy is difficult for any parent to hear. The term cerebral palsy is used to define a variety of neurological disorders that have to do with the brain and muscle control. Sufferers of these disorders may have increased muscle tone, reduced muscle tone, or a combination of the two causing difficulty with coordination, muscle control, and body movement.

More worrying than dealing with the effects of cerebral palsy, though, is wondering how a child contracted it. Some children get cerebral palsy during gestation when a mother contracts German measles, also known as Rubella. Another way of getting the disorder is from being jaundiced. If left untreated, jaundice can damage the brain tissue and nervous system. A majority of children who have cerebral palsy, however, get it at or directly after birth from a medical error.

During a woman’s pregnancy, her medical provider is directly responsible for the care of both her and her unborn child. During gestation, failure to diagnose an infection, such as German measles, can have an adverse effect on the fetus causing brain damage and possibly resulting in cerebral palsy.

It is also important that the pregnancy is correctly dated. If a pregnancy is not dated correctly using ultrasound technology, the baby may be delivered too early. Premature delivery means that the brain may not be developed fully and the brain may be injured permanently.

Even more damaging than substandard prenatal care is when an injury occurs during the baby’s birth. When a baby is stuck in the birth canal the doctor needs to act quickly to get it out in order to keep it alive. Failure to do so can result in a loss of oxygen to the baby’s brain, which can cause cerebral palsy.

Sometimes the equipment the physician uses in order to facilitate the delivery is to blame for the condition. The use of a vacuum extractor has a marked effect on the fetus and can cause a host of problems, ranging from mild scrapes and bruising to bleeding in the brain. The bleeding can damage the brain causing cerebral palsy. Severe bruising may also cause the disorder. When a bruise breaks down it turns into bilirubin, which is filtered out by the liver. If there is too much bilirubin or if the liver is not capable of handling it due to another problem, such as premature birth, the excess bilirubin can damage the brain.

Once the membranes have been ruptured, the baby needs to be delivered within 48 hours. Failure to do so can result in an infection entering the womb. This is extremely dangerous for a baby and can bring about cerebral palsy.

A child who has cerebral palsy may need a lifetime of treatment, including physical therapy and medication. Both of these can be extremely costly. If the cerebral palsy is severe the entire life of the parents may be changed drastically in order to take care of their growing child.

It is important that if you believe your child has cerebral palsy due to a medical error to contact a lawyer. Medical malpractice is a growing field. Patients and their family that have been harmed by medical errors are no longer standing by, but are, instead, using the judicial system to receive compensation for the errors that the physician has made. It is important to seek legal representation quickly in order to receive justice for your child.

When choosing a lawyer, it is imperative that you choose one that is knowledgeable in medical malpractice. A lawyer that specializes in birth error lawsuits, especially ones with experience in cerebral palsy lawsuits, will be better able to judge if you have a true case. A solid case will help you receive compensation for the medical errors made before or during the delivery of your child.