Risk factors are always considered by cerebral palsy lawyers during investigation into the cause of this condition. A medical malpractice risk factor is a variable which may increase the chance of developing a medical condition. The presence of a risk factor does not mean that the condition will occur, nor does the absence of a risk factor mean that the condition will not occur. There are risk factors relating to this condition and if present then care should be taken by medical professionals to ensure that they are ready to deal with any eventuality.
Cerebral palsy lawyers will consider the following risk factors when assessing whether or not the cause of the injury was as a result of medical malpractice :-
- lengthy labor and delivery
- breech presentation babies
- vascular or respiratory problems during labor and delivery
- low Apgar score shortly after birth which is a measure of heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color
- the first or fifth or later child born to the mother
- one of twins with higher risk if one dies
- low birth weight of less than 3.5 pounds
- premature infant born prior to 37 weeks gestation
- multiple births
- obvious nervous system malformations
- Rh or ABO blood type incompatibility between mother and infant
- infections of the infants central nervous system
Further risk factors that may be associated with the mother and deserve to be investigated by the cerebral palsy lawyers making initial investigations into the cause of the condition may include :-
- maternal bleeding
- proteinuria late in pregnancy
- maternal hyperthyroidism
- infection by German measles and certain other viruses
- maternal seizures
- African-Caucasian ethnicity
- mother 40 years or older
- mother 20 years or younger
Cerebral palsy lawyers will carefully scrutinise the mothers and childs medical records looking for any potential risk factors that may have been missed by health care providers. The delivery of a child can be a complex and difficult matter especially if there are complications. Medical providers should do everything that they can to reduce problems by identifying the circumstances that increase the risk of cerebral palsy. If an obvious risk becomes apparent then failure to take adequate precautions at an early stage may mean that they are liable to pay damages for any injury caused to an unborn child as a result of negligence.
To establish a diagnosis doctors will test motor skills, development, muscle tone, and posture after detailed consideration of the medical records. There is no treatment that can undo the damage caused as a result of irreversible injury to the brain which may result in serious and difficult medical, social and educational challenges however an award of substantial compensation can make life easier and more comfortable for all concerned. That’s where our attorneys come in to help your child to receive the compensation they need and deserve.
Doctors usually provide a high standard of excellence for their patients however there are occasions when things go wrong. We can get you the best representation available anywhere in the country and our lawyers deal with claims on a contingency basis which means they don’t get paid unless they succeed. If you would like free telephone advice from an expert just complete the contact form.
