Albuquerque Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
This article has been fact checked by an experienced birth injury attorney. Sources of information for the article are listed at the bottom.
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Albuquerque children cerebral palsy fortunately have quality resources and excellent medical care in their city. Most babies born in Albuquerque will have a smooth birthing experience.
However, mistakes can and will happen, and costly medical errors can lead to a lifetime of expenses and a complete lifestyle change for parents and loved ones. Families who are a victim of medical mistakes shouldn’t have to worry about costs on top of other worries.
Birth injuries, in some instances, is what can lead a child to develop cerebral palsy. Birth injuries that should have and could have been prevented are known as medical negligence and occur when a medical professional doesn’t provide the reasonable standard of care that’s expected of them.
While birth injuries can occur during the labor and delivery period of a pregnancy, it can also happen before birth, when a doctor ignores warning signs, and after even months after birth, when an infant develops a disorder as a direct result of the birth injury.
For instance, there is a misconception that birth injuries are injuries that occur during labor and delivery. However, if a physician fails to diagnose and adequately treat maternal infections correctly, the doctor could be liable for damages if the infections lead to the patient’s child developing a disease, which could lead to cerebral palsy.
Sometimes, such as the following case below, nurses can be just as liable for medical mistakes and negligence. Generally, these types of tragic events occur when nurses fail to alert physicians in time when the mother or infant requires immediate medical care. Hospitals usually are liable for damages in these types of situations.
Keep in mind that medical negligence and mistakes cause not all cerebral palsy cases. It can be challenging to determine if you’re unsure what constitutes medical negligence. An experienced Albuquerque cerebral palsy can assist you in deciding if your child’s disorder could have been prevented if not for negligent medical mistakes at the hands of those you trusted your child’s safety with.
$73.2 Million Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Victory
A New Mexico family won a $73.2 million lawsuit in 2018 after a jury determined that a doctor and medical center’s negligence led to a boy developing severe disabilities that have left him with limitations for life.
A Lea County mom and her son were represented by an Albuquerque cerebral palsy lawyer in a case that resulted in one of the highest reward amounts for a cerebral palsy suit in the history of the state.
“The jury was angry,” the lawyer said after the verdict. “This verdict, to me, represents the power of a jury. They will affect change by their vote here, by their award. That will get the attention of every health care provider in New Mexico and, actually, across the country.”
According to court documents, Dr. Jerry McLaughlin, employer, Pecos Valley of New Mexico, an outpatient clinic, was found negligent in taking care of the mother before childbirth and preparing correctly. The physician reportedly knew beforehand that delivery would be high-risk.
In 2013, the mom, Lorenza Botello, gave birth to an 11.5-pound baby boy, Jonathan Botello. The baby, however, was deprived of oxygen for at least 10 minutes after being forcefully pulled out by a birth-assisting vacuum.
As a result, Jonathan developed permanent brain damage, in addition to a host of disabilities.
Before childbirth, Lorenza had visited Dr. McLaughlin’s clinic around 17 times. Court documents indicate that he knew she had diabetes and at age 36, considered to have a high-risk pregnancy. The doctor also knew that she would be delivering an “unusually large” infant, yet failed to take the proper steps to ensure safe delivery.
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center advised the doctor to send the mother in for additional testing, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Still, the physician chose to ignore the advice.
While trying to deliver the baby via traditional methods, the doctor noticed that Jonathan’s shoulders were too big. In turn, he yanked the boy through with the birth assisting tool. The force ripped the baby’s nerves inside one of his arms while Lorenza experienced a painful laceration.
“When health care providers hear about this verdict, they will make sure they make changes in their policies so that another little boy and mom don’t have to suffer,” the lawyer added. “That is the power of what a Santa Fe jury can do.”
If your child was injured and developed cerebral palsy, keep in mind that an experienced and caring Albuquerque cerebral palsy attorney can help you as well. Parents or caregivers of children with cerebral palsy and other disorders caused by negligent medical professionals should be expected to cover the child’s overwhelming medical expenses alone, which is typically more than the average U.S. family can afford.
Medical Help and Cerebral Palsy Resources in Albuquerque
UNM Health Center Pediatric Rehabilitation
1127 University Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 505-272-4511
PMG Pediatric Chronic Care Clinic at Presbyterian Hospital Physician Office Building
201 Cedar St. SE, Suite 4660
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Phone: 505-563-6530
Cerebral Palsy Therapy Albuquerque NM- Pediasuit
Contact for Locations: 954-356-2878
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