• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cerebral Palsy Guidance

Answers and Assistance

877-862-8594phone iconCall
  • Cerebral Palsy
    • Types
    • Symptoms
    • Diagnosis
    • Prognosis
    • Causes
    • Associated Disorders
    • Gross Motor Classification System
    • Treatment
    • Life Expectancy
    • Myths
    • Risk Factors
    • Support Groups
    • Research
    • United Cerebral Palsy Association
    • Birth Injury Overview
  • Living With Cerebral Palsy
    • Daily Communication
    • Physical Fitness
    • Toilet Training Tips
    • Eating and Feeding Tips
    • Wheelchairs and Scooters
    • Walkers, Canes, and Standers
    • Falling Issues
    • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
    • Conductive Education
    • Tips For Better Sleeping
    • Traveling Tips
    • Sports
    • Bullying
    • Inclusive Playgrounds
    • Respite Care
    • Transitioning to Adulthood
    • Vocational Counseling
    • College Guide
    • Finding a Job
    • Having Children
    • Costs
  • Financial Assistance
    • Government Assistance
    • Special Education Assistance
    • Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
    • Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit
  • Our Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Houston Texas
Home > Cerebral Palsy Lawyer > Texas Cerebral Palsy Lawyer > Houston Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Last Updated: May 20, 2022

Houston Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Page Written by Robert Wharton, Esquire
Page Written by Robert Wharton, Esquire

This article has been fact checked by an experienced birth injury attorney. Sources of information for the article are listed at the bottom.

For any content issues please Contact Us.

If you think your child developed cerebral palsy due to medical mistakes, a Houston cerebral palsy lawyer may be able to assist you. Qualified lawyers in Houston have helped many families with justice and compensation after healthcare professionals negligently caused birth injuries.

Why You Need a Houston Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Children with special needs, including cerebral palsy and other disorders, have many resources and excellent medical care in Houston. Most babies born in Houston are in quality medical hands.

Yet, mistakes can and will happen, and medical malpractice can lead to a lifetime of expenses and a complete lifestyle change for parents and loved ones. Families who are victims of medical mistakes shouldn’t have to worry about costs on top of other worries.

Get Matched with a Leading Birth InjuryCerebral Palsy Attorney in Your Area

Get Help Now

Birth injury laws in Houston and Texas have their own set of rules. If you think your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical negligence, time is of the essence.

In Houston, cerebral palsy lawsuits must be started within two years of the time your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

However, the deadline can be delayed if any issues arise during your child’s ongoing treatments.

According to state law, children in Texas are allowed to file the lawsuit themselves, but they must do it by the age of 14.

What Constitutes Medical Negligence in Houston?

Medical negligence and mistakes happen when medical staff, including physicians and nurses, fail to act within a reasonable standard of medical care.

For example, if a doctor fails to check up on fetal monitoring properly and doesn’t realize the infant is in distress, this can lead to serious issues. The baby could lose oxygen, which could cause brain damage, leading to cerebral palsy.

Another form of medical negligence, although considered rare in today’s medical world, is the improper use of birth-assisting tools.

In one such Texas case, a family won their cerebral palsy lawsuit after a physician crushed a little girl’s head while using forceps during delivery.

Baby Olivia’s Lawsuit

Sadly, not all children survive medical mistakes. Although the good news is that death due to medical negligence is rare, it didn’t take the pain away from a family who lost their infant girl in 2014.

The day after Christmas in 2013, Rachel Melancon checked into the Medical Center of Southeast Texas after going into labor. Rachel had a healthy pregnancy and didn’t expect anything except a joyous occasion.

Yet, things went wrong when Dr. George Backardjieve decided to use forceps to deliver baby Olivia.[1]

In an attempt to pull Olivia out during delivery, the doctor ended up crushing the infant’s head and destroying her spine. The baby was subsequently rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, but she passed away five days later.

“We had plans. We had plans. We definitely wanted a little girl. We got a little girl,” Rachel told 12 News.

Olivia’s parents filed a lawsuit against the hospital and the delivering physician. While investigating, the family’s lawyers discovered that the doctor had misused forceps. He also gave Rachel the labor-inducing drug, Pitocin, even though Olivia had an abnormal heartbeat.

When the trial concluded in 2013, the jury awarded the family close to $10.3 million in damages. The jury also awarded an additional $200,000 to the mother for pain and suffering.

In other cases, when babies survive an incident after a physician misuses birth-assisting, they have a higher rate of developing cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy typically occurs when an infant develops brain damage.

When physicians use birth-assisting tools, such as forceps and vacuum extraction tools, there is a risk of numerous injuries if these tools are not used correctly. Signs of improper birthing tools usage include:

  • Misshapen infant head (this can also happen naturally during the birthing process)
  • Seizures
  • Infant bruising
  • Hemorrhages
  • Infant lethargy and weakness
  • Paralysis

If you feel your child was injured due to medical mistakes, keep in mind that an experienced and compassionate Houston cerebral palsy lawyer can help you get the justice you deserve.

No parent should have to foot overwhelming medical and care expenses alone if a child is injured by the professionals who should have kept them safe.

Medical Help and Resources in Houston

Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital 

The Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital provides various services and treatment options for children with the disorder.

According to its official website, the clinic provides not only treatment options for cerebral palsy, but also associated conditions, including “developmental and learning problems, difficulties with coordination, positioning, and mobility as well as seizures.”[2]

6621 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 832-824-1000

Texas Comprehensive Spasticity Center

Part of the Texas Children’s Hospital, the  Texas Comprehensive Spasticity Center’s Houston location has numerous medical specialists to help develop a comprehensive treatment plan for your child.

According to the center’s website, medical professionals include a pediatric neurologist and “three pediatric neurosurgeons, pediatric orthopedists, and a pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist,” according to the center’s website.[3]

The center also has a clinical trial program manager, physical and occupational therapists, and numerous medical and physician assistants.

6621 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 832-824-1000

Shriners Hospital for Children – Houston Location

The Shriners Hospital for Children in Houston offers “specialists with pediatric expertise” in numerous specialties. They help children with disabilities through non-operative and operative orthopedics treatment.[4]

6977 Main St.
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-797-1616

Get Matched with a Leading Birth InjuryCerebral Palsy Attorney in Your Area

Get Help Now

References

  1. Holmes, V. (2016, August 16). Baby Olivia: Timeline to a tragedy. KBMT.
    Retrieved from: https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/baby-olivia-timeline-to-a-tragedy/299924318
  2. Cerebral palsy clinic. (n.d.). Texas Children's Hospital.
    Retrieved from: https://www.texaschildrens.org/departments/cerebral-palsy-clinic
  3. Texas Comprehensive Spasticity Center. (2018, November 16). Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.
    Retrieved from: http://childrens.memorialhermann.org/services/neurological/texas-comprehensive-spasticity-center/
  4. Shriners Hospitals for Children — Houston. (n.d.). Children's Hospital | Shriners Hospitals for Children.
    Retrieved from: https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/houston/orthopaedics
View All References
Page Written by Robert Wharton, Esquire

Page Written by Robert Wharton, Esquire

Robert Wharton is an experienced cerebral palsy and birth injury attorney. His law firm handles medical malpractice cases throughout the United States. He has been selected multiple times as a “Super Lawyers – Rising Star”, and was honored as a “Top 40 Under 40” lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

See Full Bio

Primary Sidebar

Get Matched with a Leading Birth InjuryCerebral Palsy Attorney in Your Area

Get Help Now
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy in Newborns
Cerebral Palsy in Toddlers
Severe Cerebral Palsy
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Ataxic
Atonic (Hypotonic)
Dyskinetic Athetoid
Dystonic
Hypertonic
Mixed
Non-Spastic
Spastic
Spastic Diplegia
Spastic Hemiplegia
Spastic Quadriplegia
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
How Cerebral Palsy Affects the Brain and Body Parts
Cerebral Palsy Causes
Birth Asphyxia
Prolonged Labor
Delayed C-Section
Forceps Delivery Injuries
Vacuum Extractor Injuries
Nuchal Cord Birth Injuries
Uterine Rupture and Birth Injury
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)
Failure to Diagnose
Chorioamnionitis
Improper NICU Care
Traumatic Brain Injury
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Hydrocephalus
Pitocin Errors
Anesthesia Errors
Infertility Drugs
Cerebral Dysgenesis and Cerebral Palsy
Jaundice
Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
Placental Problems
Epidural Hematoma
Perinatal Stroke
Acquired Brain Injuries and Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Associated Disorders
Mobility Issues
Pain
Cognitive Issues
Developmental Delays
Cerebral Palsy and Post-Impairment Syndrome
Seizures
Epilepsy
Malnutrition
Respiratory Health
Hearing Problems
Vision Impairment
Arthritis
Depression
Sleep Issues
Dysphagia
Oral Health Issues
Skin Conditions
Digestive Issues and Health
Emotional Issues
Behavioral Disorders
Autism
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Diabetes
Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
Imaging Tests
Cerebral Palsy Prognosis
Cerebral Palsy Gross Motor Classification System
Cerebral Palsy Treatment
Cerebral Palsy Specialists
Nutrition Therapy
Chiropractic Care
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Medications
Seizure Medications
Anticonvulsants
Muscle Relaxants
Stem Cell Therapy
Surgery
Aquatic Therapy
Acupuncture Therapy
Botox Treatment
Hippotherapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Massage Therapy
Physical Therapy
Homeopathy
Yoga
Pilates
Intensive Suit Therapy
Medical Marijuana
Functional Electrical Stimulation
Osteopathic Manipulation
Anat Baniel Method and NeuroMovement
Pet Therapy
Cerebral Palsy Cure
Cerebral Palsy Life Expectancy
Cerebral Palsy Risk Factors
High-Risk Pregnancy
Risk Factor Causal Pathways
Premature Birth
Birth Complications
Post-term Pregnancy
Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Maternal and Fetal Infections
Blood Type Incompatibility
Multiple Births
Parental Habits and Health
Cerebral Palsy Support Groups and Organizations
Cerebral Palsy Research
Cerebral Palsy History
Facts and Statistics
Prevalence and Incidence
Cerebral Palsy Myths
Cerebral Palsy Prevention
Cerebral Palsy Misdiagnosis
United Cerebral Palsy Association
Living With Cerebral Palsy
Costs
Orthopedic Health
Neurological Health
Daily Communication
Physical Fitness
Abuse
Toilet Training Tips
Eating and Feeding Tips
Wheelchairs and Scooters
Wheelchair-accessible Vans
Walkers, Canes, and Standers
Adaptive Bikes
Affordable Transportation
Assistive Technology
Falling Issues
Home Modifications
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Conductive Education
Tips For Better Sleeping
Traveling Tips
Sports
Bullying
Inclusive Playgrounds
Respite Care
Faith
Engaging in the Arts
Transitioning to Adulthood
LGBT
Vocational Counseling
College Guide
Teacher Tips for Inclusive Classrooms
Finding a Job
Having Children
Veterans
Fostering or Adopting a Child with CP
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
Emergency Preparedness
Financial Assistance
Government Assistance
Title V MCH Benefits
Special Education Assistance
Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Alabama
Huntsville
Alaska
Anchorage
Arizona
Phoenix
Arkansas
Little Rock
California
Los Angeles
Colorado
Denver
Connecticut
Bridgeport
Delaware
Wilmington
Florida
Jacksonville
Georgia
Atlanta
Hawaii
Honolulu
Idaho
Boise
Illinois
Chicago
Indiana
Indianapolis
Iowa
Des Moines
Kansas
Wichita
Kentucky
Louisville
Louisiana
New Orleans
Maine
Portland, Maine
Maryland
Baltimore
Massachusetts
Boston
Michigan
Detroit
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Mississippi
Jackson
Missouri
Kansas City
Montana
Billings
Nebraska
Omaha
Nevada
Las Vegas
New Hampshire
Manchester
New Jersey
Newark
New Mexico
Albuquerque
New York
New York City
North Carolina
Charlotte
North Dakota
Fargo
Ohio
Columbus
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Oregon
Portland
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Rhode Island
Providence
South Carolina
Columbia
South Dakota
Sioux Falls
Tennessee
Nashville
Texas
Houston
Utah
Salt Lake City
Vermont
Burlington
Virginia
Virginia Beach
Washington
Seattle
West Virginia
Charleston
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
Wyoming
Cheyenne
Medical Malpractice
Claim for Compensation
Lawsuit
Settlement
Statute of Limitations
Life Care Plan
Goals
Evaluation
Diagnosis
Care Team
Record Keeping and Documents
Birth Injury
Treatment
Causes
Failure to Monitor
Symptoms
Prognosis
Lawyer
Settlement
Lawsuit
Claim for Compensation
Infant Skull Fracture
Treatment
Symptoms
Causes
Prognosis
Lawyer
Settlement
Lawsuit
Claim for Compensation
Infant Brain Damage
Prognosis
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Lawyer
Lawsuit
Claim for Compensation
Settlement
Infant Wrongful Death
Causes
Claim for Compensation
Lawyer
Settlement
Lawsuit
Grieving the Loss of a Baby
Erb’s Palsy
Symptoms
Prognosis
Treatment
Causes
Lawyer
Settlement
Lawsuit
Claim for Compensation
Brachial Plexus Injury
Causes
Prognosis
Symptoms
Treatment
Lawyer
Lawsuit
Settlement
Claim for Compensation
Klumpke’s Palsy
Lawyer
Lawsuit

© 2023 CerebralPalsyGuidance.com · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer

The information provided by CerebralPalsyGuidance.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Living With Cerebral Palsy
  • Financial Assistance
  • Our Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
210 W. Division St. Syracuse, NY 13204

We provide nationwide assistance

Facebook Twitter
Learn About Our Editorial Guidelines