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An experienced Phoenix cerebral palsy lawyer can explain legal rights and determine if you have a solid birth injury case if your child is born with this condition. Cerebral palsy can be caused by medical malpractice, and victims and their families have a right to seek compensation.
Birth Injuries and Medical Malpractice
Many different factors can cause or increase the risk of cerebral palsy.[1] A birth injury can also lead to cerebral palsy. Some medically negligent injuries are apparent, such as improper use of birthing tools, but there are many misconceptions about what makes up a birth injury.
While birth injuries can occur during the labor and delivery period of a pregnancy, they can also happen during the months before birth and the months after birth.
Get Matched with a Leading Birth Injury Attorney in Your Area
Get Help NowFor example, if a doctor doesn’t find, diagnose, and treat maternal infections in a patient with an established physician/patient relationship, the doctor could be liable for damages if the infections lead to an infant developing cerebral palsy.
Further, although rare, a physician who drops an infant or waits too long to deliver an infant increases the risk of the baby developing brain damage after birth, leading to cerebral palsy.
These tragic events occur when nurses do not alert physicians when the mother and infant need immediate medical care. Hospitals can be liable for damages in these types of situations.
How Can A Phoenix Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Help?
Medical negligence and mistakes do not cause all cerebral palsy cases. Determining whether your child was injured because of malpractice can be confusing.
An experienced Phoenix cerebral palsy lawyer can aid you in deciding if your child’s disorder happened because of negligent medical mistakes at the hands of those you trusted with your child’s safety.
A lawyer can outline your legal options if they believe negligence played a role. They can help you file a lawsuit, seek a settlement, and get compensation for your child’s care.
$10 Million Settlement for Failure to Promptly Treat Fetal Distress
A Phoenix family won a $10 million settlement when a pregnant mother checked into a hospital (name undisclosed) with a ruptured membrane.
According to the cerebral palsy attorneys representing the plaintiffs, the woman, who had a confirmed breech presentation pregnancy, was hooked up to electronic fetal monitoring upon checking in to the hospital.
The fetal monitoring showed that the mother’s infant boy showed signs of bradycardia heart rate. The attending nurse overlooked the issue and wasted too much time before contacting a doctor for help.
The baby developed brain damage because of the nurse’s delay. He later developed hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy.
Although the boy can now communicate, his daily living activities require constant support from others.
Whether through a nurse’s negligence, a physician’s misjudgment, or any other medical mistake made before, during, or after the birthing process, parents shouldn’t be responsible for every pricey expense for a child left with a lifelong disorder.
A competent Phoenix cerebral palsy attorney can assist you in determining if you have a valid case. If you do, you can expect an experienced lawyer to fight to ensure you get the justice you and your family need.
Damages in Phoenix cerebral palsy cases could include past, present, and future medical expenses, loss of earnings damages, loss of quality of life, and much more.
Medical Resources in Phoenix
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Cerebral Palsy Program at Barrow Neurological Institute “brings top children’s hospitals together with the goal of defining and achieving gold standards of treatment for children with cerebral palsy,” according to its website.[2]
Before starting treatment, the hospital’s orthopedic doctor and therapists meet with the family and patient and develop a comprehensive treatment plan based on each individual’s needs. Treatment options include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medications, surgery, and more.
1919 E Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602-933-1000
Mayo Clinic Phoenix
Mayo Clinic physicians are “nationally recognized” experts for their compassion, hard work, and dedication to cerebral patients of all ages.
The clinic offers comprehensive treatment options, including therapy, surgery, diet plans, physical therapy, medications, emotional support, and more.[3]
5779 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85054
Phone: 480-342-2000
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Get Help NowReferences
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, October 6). Causes and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy.
Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/causes.html - Phoenix Children's Hospital. (n.d.). About us.
Retrieved from: http://www.phoenixchildrens.org/about-us - Mayo Clinic. (2023, July 7). Mayo Clinic hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/arizona/campus-buildings-maps/mayo-clinic-hospital