Cerebral Palsy, which is also known as static encephalopathy or Little's disease, is a condition that affects nerves that control the muscles of the body. It is a group of chronic disorders that impairs the control of movement and appears in a child's first few years of life. Human error can be the cause of Cerebral Palsy, but this is not always the case. If you suspect your child is suffering from Cerebral Palsy due to a medical mistake or negligence, contact a Cheyenne birth injury attorney for advice.

Birth injuries are far more common than we would like to believe. It is reported that a birth injury occurs in 27 out of every 1,000 live births. A birth injury that is caused from complications encountered during labor and delivery can range from mild to severe and is often caused by oxygen deprivation due to compression of the umbilical cord. In the course of the delivery process, a physician must be very careful that the baby gets enough oxygen. Other causes include mechanical trauma caused by medical equipment such as forceps and vacuums to name a few.

Individuals who are affected by Cerebral Palsy unavoidably encounter difficult educational, medical and social challenges throughout the course of their life. Many experience difficulty with balance, fine motor tasks, walking and even involuntary movements. Symptoms do vary per person and are known to change over time. If it can be determined that your family member suffers from Cerebral Palsy due to a medical error or negligence, a birth injury attorney can handle all aspects of your claim.

A recent birth injury case that is interesting to note was recently decided in Delaware. In May of 2010 a Delaware jury delivered a medical malpractice verdict of $6.5 million for a child with Cerebral Palsy. The case was based on the claim that the doctors failed to give a child proper treatment for elevated bilirubin levels and jaundice. Apparently the infant was born without complications and sent home without having bilirubin levels checked, which is standard procedure in most hospitals. Four days later the mother noticed a yellowish color and brought the infant back in. He was then diagnosed and treated for jaundice, but it was too late and the child developed Cerebral Palsy. Jaundice is a condition where bilirubin in the blood builds up. When these bilirubin levels get too high, the child is at risk for brain damage and developing Cerebral Palsy.

While birth injury is not always caused by medical malpractice or negligence, on some occasions it is. A recent study of over 700,000 births found that there was a 32 to 47 percent higher incidence of infant deaths when the babies were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit during the night. This appears to indicate the staff fatigue and level of experience may have been factors in this study.

If your child is afflicted with Cerebral Palsy and you suspect it was caused as a result of medical malpractice, contact a Cheyenne birth injury attorney for a free consultation on the merits of your case and your next step moving forward.