Cerebral Palsy

Birth Injury Causes of Cerebral Palsy In San Jose

The San Jose, California Mitchell Law Firm looks at the birth injury causes of cerebral palsy and how healthcare professionals can be liable for injuries through lawsuits and litigation. Cerebral palsy means “brain paralysis,” and is a disorder that affects motor functions controlled by the brain.  Cerebral palsy can affect movement, posture, balance, muscle control, breathing, swallowing, bladder and bowel control, talking, hearing, vision, and sometimes results in mental retardation.

There is much debate on the causes of cerebral palsy.  A baby’s exposure in the womb to infection, genetic defects, and the mother’s medical conditions are possible causes.  The incorrect treatment of jaundice, premature birth, head injury during birth, and lack of oxygen during birth are also believed to be causes.  Cerebral palsy is sometimes caused by the negligence a medical professional.  Some examples of medical negligence that can cause cerebral palsy include failing to diagnose infections or conditions in the pregnant woman, prescribing incorrect drugs or doses, failure to order tests, allowing prolonged labor, excessive use of vacuum suction, errors in delivery resulting in lack of oxygen, failure to properly treat jaundice in the infant, and failure to recognize the breech position of the baby.

Healthcare professionals are liable for cerebral palsy in an infant if the healthcare professional’s negligence or purposeful behavior led to the development of the condition.  Negligence occurs when the healthcare professional deviates from the usual standard of care in a given situation.  It’s lax behavior, or cutting corners.  It can also be the use of bad judgment, or lack of knowledge.  It could be a panicked response instead of a well though out response in the face of a crisis.  There are many causes of negligence, but the result is the same:  if the negligence caused the injury, the healthcare professional is liable for damages in a court of law.

For a free consultation with one of our medical malpractice or personal injury lawyers, please call The Mitchell Law Firm at 866-616-9947, or fill out our web form.