Cerebral
palsy is not a disease, it is a condition, and is
not contagious. In most cases, the initial cause of
cerebral palsy will never be known. There are known
risk factors that can indicate the likelihood for
CP, but they do not point to specific causes.
Most cerebral palsy conditions are caused by a
brain injury that occurred during pregnancy or birth
(congenital), or in the months/years following birth
(Acquired CP). Cerebral Palsy disorders are caused
by faulty development of or damage to motor areas in
the brain that disrupt the brain's ability to
control movement and posture. A variety of
conditions can lead to brain injury, including:
- Genetic conditions and problems with the blood
supply to the brain can affect how the child's
brain develops during the first 6 months of
pregnancy.
- Oxygen shortage - if the oxygen supply to the
brain is severely low at the time of birth, the
infant may suffer a type of brain damage called
hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
- Rh incompatibility - a blood condition that
causes the mother's immune cells to attack the
fetus, resulting in jaundice.
- Severe Jaundice in the child during the first
weeks following birth.
- Toxicity - drug or alcohol use during
pregnancy can result in brain damage.
- Kidney and urinary tract infections - these
infections, if severe and prolonged, in the
mother can lead to brain damage within the
fetus.
- Exposure of the expectant mother to certain
infections including rubella, toxoplasmosis and
cytomegalovirus.
- Severe physical trauma to the mother during
pregnancy.
Acquired cerebral palsy results from brain damage
in the first few months to years of life and can be
caused by conditions such as:
- Brain infections - encephalitis, meningitis
- Head injury - falls, automobile accidents,
child abuse
Ten to fifteen percent of cerebral palsy cases
are caused by a recognized brain injury, such as
infection (e.g., meningitis), bleeding into the
brain, and damage caused by lack of oxygen. Most
causes are unidentified, and medical professionals
can simply review present risk
factors. Some of the errors made by healthcare
professionals during delivery can result in a
cerebral palsy condition.
- The failure to recognize and treat seizures
following delivery;
- Failure to order a C-Section in a timely
manner;
- Excessive use of a vacuum extractor;
- Failure to detect a prolapsed umbilical cord
reducing oxygen supply;
- Improper use of delivery forceps;
- Hospital staff may not properly read or
respond to the babies vital signs;
- Failure to declare fetal distress;
- Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice or
meningitis;
The following incidents may justify further
investigation, or indicate the possibility of a
medical malpractice claim:
- The use of resuscitation (CPR) after birth;
- Emergency delivery with forceps, or by
c-section;
- Special testing after birth, such as an MRI
scan, CT scan or brain scan;
- A specialist may not have been consulted when
necessary;
While most doctors, nurses, midwives, and
hospital technicians provide a high standard of care
for their patients, unfortunately, many families are
harmed by medical mistakes. Parents of a child
suffering with cerebral palsy should contact an
experienced cerebral palsy lawyer to research the
cause of their child’s condition. Medical mistakes
are responsible for many birth injury cases and it
would be impossible for a parent, alone, to
determine if medical malpractice caused their
child's injury. It is only through the dedicated and
thorough efforts of a legal and medical team that
the cause can be ascertained.
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