Settlement Reached In Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit
News reports that a family has just reached a $5.3 Million settlement with a New York area hospital stemming from actions surrounding the birth and delivery of their child. The child was born at 32 weeks and has been diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The lawsuit asserted that “not enough steps were taken to prevent this premature birth.”
Cerebral palsy is a type of birth injury which is caused by trauma to the brain. It occurs at or close to the time of birth and the severity of the condition is based on the kind of damage to the brain of the newborn. The condition is chronic and will not get better or worse over time. It is important to note that medical errors of various kinds are known causes of cerebral palsy.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy can include loss of movement or other functions related to the nervous system. It affects brain development and can cause abnormal hearing and eyesight as well as cognitive difficulties such as the ability to think and learn. It may also manifest as uncontrolled movement of the limbs, troubles in being able to walk, abnormal posture and trouble with balance and coordination. These warning signs commonly appear by the time the child is 2 years old but may show up earlier.
At Bostwick & Peterson, we have seen far too many instances of hospital errors and physician mistakes leading to life long birth injuries. If you believe your child has suffered a birth injury as the result of a medical mistake, your first step should be consulting with an experienced California birth injury lawyer.
Most deliveries are successful and joyful days in a family’s life – however certain errors such as hospital staff failing to properly monitor a baby, a a physician not taking adequate precautions or acting quickly enough to remedy a situation of distress can lead to devastating consequences. Where a physician or other medical staff fails to take the appropriate steps – does not meet the requisite standard of care – if may be possible to recover the compensation needed to a lifetime of care.
For more information about cerebral palsy, medical malpractice or if you believe your child has suffered a birth injury as the result of hospital error, please contact the dedicated California birth injury attorneys at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate confidential consultation.
