Pregnancy is a time of heightened emotions and physical strain. Many women spend these months dreaming of the child they will soon give birth to. Very few imagine that the child they are carrying will develop serious medical issues because of a doctor’s mistake.
Unfortunately, it does happen. Doctors are humans and prone to making poor decisions, just like everyone else. In some cases, a doctor may choose to not monitor fetal vital signs early in labor, meaning that infant distress isn’t discovered until it is too late. In other cases, delays and small mistakes can result in catastrophic medical damage.
Your doctor could be handling a large patient load or simply want to be done with the day’s shift. These pressures can result in questionable decision making where the patient ends up paying the price. Occasionally, these mistakes can cause lifelong medical issues, like cerebral palsy, in a child that would otherwise have been born healthy. When that happens, the family should take steps to hold the doctor accountable for those mistakes.
Cerebral palsy will impact your child for life
Cerebral palsy is a common birth injury. It is typically caused by brain damage due to oxygen deprivation during pregnancy or the labor process. The damage impacts parts of the brain that control motor function, development and language, resulting in delayed or decreased development of the effected child. It is common for children with cerebral palsy to have issues with motor function, necessitating the use of a wheelchair or crutches for mobility. Because these symptoms aren’t always obvious at birth, the diagnosis of cerebral palsy is often delayed months or years after the birth injury itself.
The severity of symptoms varies from child to child. The most common symptoms include decreased muscle tone, delays reaching major milestones such as holding up one’s own head or rolling over and issues with posture and balance. With adequate medical and social support, children with cerebral palsy can have fulfilling lives. The care these children need, however, is often expensive. An attorney can review your birth situation and child’s symptoms to help determine if you have a medical malpractice case. You may be entitled to compensation if a doctor’s mistake is responsible for the cerebral palsy.
An attorney will help fight for your family
Working with an experienced medical malpractice attorney who knows Washington precedent is important. Your attorney can help you gather the necessary medical evidence to support your medical malpractice claim. You may need to get outside advice or a second medical opinion. The right attorney can help with every step of the process, from filing a malpractice claim to initiating a civil lawsuit to help offset your financial losses.
Source: Nov. 30, -0001