While birth injuries can be a part of the natural birthing process, there are some birth injuries that occur due to the physician negligence or nurses in attendance during labor and delivery.  Birth injuries can occur at any point in time during the labor and delivery process.  Medical situations or emergencies may arise during labor and delivery in which the physician or nurse is required to make a quick decision, and sometimes instead of acting quickly the doctor or nurse will hesitate or fail to recognize the situation.  This hesitation or equivocation can cause irreversible damage to the baby. 

One of the more serious birth injuries that can occur as a result of medical malpractice is cerebral palsy.  Cerebral palsy is caused by brain abnormalities, which can be the result of lack of oxygen, bleeding, head trauma, or other injury sustained during the labor and delivery process.  Cerebral palsy can cause developmental delays and may not be recognized in the child until approximately 3 years of age.  Signs of cerebral palsy include but are not limited to: a lack of muscle coordination, stiff or tight muscles, and abnormal muscle tone.  The effects of cerebral palsy on the individual's life can vary from person to person, but are generally very serious and expensive to care for over a life time.

Children born with cerebral palsy can sometimes require extensive medical care and specialized treatment.  This is especially true for those children born with severe cases of cerebral palsy.  Cerebral palsy can affect the child's ability to speak, swallow, walk, and complete general day to day activities.  The medical care and specialized services that some children require can place a heavy strain on the family's finances.  Therefore, it is imperative that parents seek help from qualified attorneys to show that their child's disability is the result of medical malpractice.  When medical malpractice can be proven, the family and the child can be awarded very significant monetary damages.

Parents that either suspect or know their child is suffering from a birth injury such as cerebral palsy will need assistance in proving their case.  Medical records will need to be obtained and potential witnesses will need to be interviewed.  This process can be daunting, overwhelming and very expensive which is why it is critical to retain the services of qualified counsel.  The lawyers at Robinson & Associates can provide parents with the assistance and guidance they need to prove their case when when they believe their child's cerebral palsy may be related to medical malpractice.