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An experienced Jacksonville cerebral palsy lawyer can help you fight for justice for your child harmed by medical malpractice. Negligence can cause cerebral palsy, and families have a right to seek compensation when it results in a child’s permanent disabilities. Contact a Jacksonville lawyer for advice and to start a lawsuit.
Can Medical Malpractice Cause Cerebral Palsy?
In many instances, cerebral palsy has no single or known cause. There are risk factors, however, that increase the chance of a baby developing the disorder. These include untreated jaundice, untreated maternal infections, and birth complications such as uterine rupture or umbilical cord issues.
The majority of these issues should be handled and treated by competent physicians. When they are not, negligence and medical malpractice may cause cerebral palsy.
Get Matched with a Leading Birth Injury Attorney in Your Area
Get Help NowFor instance, if a patient has an infection during pregnancy and goes to routine prenatal care, it’s her physician’s responsibility to diagnose the infection and treat it before it harms the unborn child.
If certain diseases go untreated, a baby can develop excess cytokines, secreted proteins in the infant’s bloodstream during pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cytokines can cause inflammation, leading to infant brain damage.[1]
Although brain damage doesn’t always lead to cerebral palsy, it can lead to other pressing issues, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
In June 2017, the U.S. government was ordered to pay the family of a baby born at Jacksonville Naval Hospital $5 million after he developed HIE.
The mother’s physician, according to court documents, failed to order an emergency C-section after her baby began showing signs of fetal distress before his 2012 birth.[2]
The mother, Jenifer Mochocki, was left untreated for around 90 minutes, leading to her baby developing permanent brain damage.
When Do I Need a Jacksonville Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?
An experienced Jacksonville cerebral palsy attorney can help you and your loved ones if you feel your child’s cerebral palsy developed due to negligence.
Children with cerebral palsy generally need more medical care and therapy than the average child. Depending on how severe the disorder is, these expenses can be more than the average family can afford.
In the meantime, getting your child quality medical care is vital. Be sure to keep track of all expenses, including travel and lodging.
If you have a valid medical malpractice case, an experienced Jacksonville CP lawyer can assist you in getting funds used for your child’s treatment reimbursed by the responsible party. You have a right to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit for your child.
Cerebral Palsy Medical Help in Jacksonville
Wolfson Children’s Hospital
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 children’s hospitals in the U.S. for neurology and neurosurgery, the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center at Wolfson Children’s Hospital offers multiple services geared toward children with cerebral palsy.[3]
Location
800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904.202.8000
Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville
Nemours Children’s Speciality Care specializes in diagnosing and treating all types of cerebral palsy and its associated disorders.
The hospital’s cerebral palsy doctors have been recognized as “Best Doctors in America,” an organization that provides information regarding the top 50,000 medical experts.[4]
Location
807 Children’s Way
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904-697-3600
New Heights of Northeast Florida
New Heights of Northeast Florida helps children who have all types of disorders and disabilities, including those with cerebral palsy.
The programs at New Heights aim to ”
To enrich the lives of persons with disabilities and their families and empower their independence and lifelong growth through quality services,” according to its website.[5]
Location
3311 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, Florida, 32207
Phone: 904-396-1462
When a mother gives birth to a child, she usually relies on a competent medical team to ensure the baby’s safety. While there is no shortage of medical professionals in Jacksonville who help bring new babies into the world safely, there have been numerous occasions when indecision, wrong decisions, lack of understanding, and mistakes have caused birth injuries.
If you believe your child was injured due to medical negligence, there are experienced Jacksonville cerebral palsy lawyers who are compassionate and understanding and who fight relentlessly to ensure that children have the financial means necessary to help them.
Get Matched with a Leading Birth Injury Attorney in Your Area
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 - Mealey's. (2017, May 3). Couple Settles With United States In Medical Malpractice Suit.
Retrieved from: https://www.law360.com/mealeys/articles/1624726 - Wolfson Children's Hospital. (n.d.). Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity.
Retrieved from: https://www.wolfsonchildrens.com/services/brain/cerebral-palsy-and-spasticity - Nemours Children's Health. (n.d.). Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville.
Retrieved from: https://www.nemours.org/locations/florida-pediatric-specialty-care-jacksonville.html#tabs-be2658b59f-item-92315bad23-tab - New Heights. (n.d.). Programs and Services.
Retrieved from: https://www.newheightsnefl.org/services