If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you are probably already aware that long-term care and costs are in store. In addition to the palsy itself, your child may also face other associated medical conditions such as vision loss, seizures, hearing loss, and, possibly, cognitive challenges. If it can be determined that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of a birthinjury, it is possible that a birth injurylawyer in Philadelphia can assist you in getting compensation that will help to cover the significant expenses that you and your family are facing in terms of the ongoing need for medical care, special education services within the Philadelphia school system, developmental assistance, and if necessary, assisted living.
The birth of a child is one of the most exhilarating and poignant moments in the life of a family. However, when the child is born with a medical condition, it can also be a time of anxiety and heartbreak. In addition, if that condition is the result of some form of negligence or malpractice, the sense of injustice can be overwhelming. Though nothing can be done to reverse the tragedy of a birthinjury, it is possible to be remunerated for the expenses that the negligence will cause for your family, in addition to providing for your child in the future if job options are limited because of the birth injury.
Twenty percent of cerebral palsy cases occur during the birth process. Various factors can cause injury to the brain, the most common of which is lack of oxygen. Because babies receive their oxygen through the umbilical cord, if the cord is compressed in any way during the birthing process, it can cut off oxygen from the brain. The result can be brain damage, cerebral palsy, or other brain related difficulties. Advances in medical technology have decreased the number of cases of birth related injury to the brain; however, when doctors or other medical personnel fail to properly monitor the birthing process or to take necessary precautions, cerebral palsy can still occur.
When you were anticipating the birth of your child, the future seemed full of hope and possibility. Cerebral palsy does not necessarily mean that the hope and possibility will be diminished, but they have definitely been altered to include lifelong medical dependence. In order to ensure that your child receives the full extent of care possible and is also provided for well into the adult years, contact a Philadelphia area lawyer to determine if you have a birthinjury case. Your birth injurylawyer in Philadelphia will help you to represent and fully protect the rights of your child, both now and into the future.
