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Contact Burlington cerebral palsy lawyers if your child has cerebral palsy. These lawyers specialize in medical malpractice law and help families seek justice for their children harmed by negligence. They also help clients recover damages to cover the costs of lifelong treatment.
Did Medical Negligence Cause My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
This is a common question parents have after receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis for their child. You want to know who is responsible and if better care could have prevented it. Understanding the cause of cerebral palsy is not always straightforward, even for experts.
The underlying cause is brain damage, but there are many ways this can occur, including negligence. The brain damage that causes cerebral palsy typically occurs during fetal development, labor, delivery, or postnatal care. The baby’s brain is very vulnerable to injury during this period, and even a small mistake can cause harm.
Get Matched with a Leading Birth Injury Attorney in Your Area
Get Help NowSome examples of how a medical professional’s negligence might cause brain damage and disabilities include:
- Not diagnosing maternal illnesses during pregnancy or failing to treat an illness or infection
- Failing to monitor fetal distress during labor
- Reacting too slowly or not at all to fetal distress or complications during labor and delivery
- Using instruments like forceps with too much force on the infant’s skull
- Failing to diagnose or treat newborn illnesses or symptoms
How Can a Burlington Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Help My Child?
The first thing a lawyer can do to help you and your child is to provide clarity. It’s difficult for a parent to understand what happened. An experienced lawyer and their network of experts can evaluate your child and review your case to determine if medical malpractice was a likely cause of cerebral palsy.
Once they determine that you have a strong case, a local lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of you and your child. The purpose of a lawsuit is to hold responsible parties accountable and recover damages.
Compensation is one of the most important reasons to work with the right lawyer. A Burlington lawyer with experience going up against the local hospitals and their legal teams gives you the best chances of recovering damages. This compensation is what you need to provide your child with the best care for life.
How to Find a Burlington Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer is the first step in getting justice for your child. Look for a lawyer or firm specializing in medical malpractice. They should also have experience with birth injuries or cerebral palsy clients.
They should offer you a free consultation so you can ask questions and get advice. They should be local but have the reach and resources to successfully resolve your case.
Choose a lawyer who accepts contingency payments. If they request payment upfront, they may not have enough resources to take on your case.
Cerebral Palsy and Botox Lawsuit in Vermont
Burlington lawyers have been busy tackling cases of local cerebral palsy patients harmed by Botox in the last few years. Some people receive Botox injections as part of treatment to manage muscle spasticity, a common cerebral palsy symptom.
Botox is usually safe, but there are some risks, as it is an injection of a toxin. In 2014, Mandy Fortuna, a 21-year-old from the Burlington area, died after receiving a Botox injection for cerebral palsy.
Her family filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, alleging that the injection contributed to her death.
This followed a similar case in which 7-year-old Joshua Drake received Botox for cerebral palsy and then developed epilepsy.
A jury awarded the family $6.75 million. Fortuna’s family hopes for a similar result for the wrongful death of their daughter.[1]
Treatment and Support for Cerebral Palsy in Burlington
It’s important to reach out to a Burlington lawyer for legal advice following your child’s diagnosis. Also important is getting treatment as soon as possible. Burlington is home to treatment centers and other resources for children and families affected by cerebral palsy.
The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital
Burlington is home to the state’s only children’s hospital, where cerebral palsy patients benefit from specialists, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, developmental pediatricians, orthopedists, pulmonologists, and more.
Several departments treat children with cerebral palsy by collaborating with area specialists: Spasticity and Sleep Program, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Center, and CVMC Rehabilitation Services.[2]
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, East Pavilion, Level 4
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 847-8200
Vermont Department of Health
The Vermont Department of Health’s Maternal & Child Health Division offers resources for families of children with disabilities. This includes the Developmental Evaluation Program.
Get a referral for expert evaluation and guidance if you are concerned about the pace of your child’s development.[3]
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671
(802) 847-2007
Center on Disability and Community Inclusion
The University of Vermont College of Education and Social Services runs the CDCI, which educates students, conducts research, and provides resources for local families. Services focus on inclusion for disabled individuals, accessibility, and advocacy.[4]
208 Colchester Ave.
Mann Hall 3rd Floor
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-4031
Burlington cerebral palsy lawyers are available right now to help you get justice for your disabled child. Contact a lawyer for information, a case evaluation, legal advice, and representation in a lawsuit.
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Get Help NowReferences
- Associated Press. (2015, April 14). Parents Sue Botox Maker After Woman with Cerebral Palsy Dies.
Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/article/54329ab8a9ed49348fda2ad04777708f - The University of Vermont Children's Hospital. (n.d.). Pediatric Specialties.
Retrieved from: https://www.uvmhealth.org/childrens-hospital/pediatric-specialties - Vermont Deparment of Health. (2024, February). Evaluating Children for Developmental Concerns.
Retrieved from: https://www.healthvermont.gov/children-youth-families/children-special-health-needs/child-development-clinic - The University of Vermont. College of Education and Social Services. Center on Disability and Community Inclusion. (n.d.). About the CDCI.
Retrieved from: https://www.uvm.edu/cess/cdci/about_cdci