Child with quadriplegic CP receives $7.5 M medical compensation

Following an intense mediation process, the family of a baby born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy was awarded $7.5 million medical compensation.

It was determined during the mediation process that the child’s debilitating condition was due to medical or doctor malpractice.

Quadriplegic cerebral palsy is considered one of the most severe forms of cerebral palsy. Throughout the patient’s life, round-the-clock care is required, as patients afflicted with this type of cerebral palsy won’t be able to sit, walk, eat and, in some cases, breathe on their own.

The child’s mother, a healthy young woman, arrived at a hospital to deliver her baby a few years ago. She was expecting a typical delivery, as she had, up until this point, experienced a normal pregnancy.

The initial fetal monitor readings indicated that her baby was healthy. However, within two hours of arriving at the hospital, the baby started showing signs of distress.

In another two hours the nurse would call the obstetrician. At this point, the baby's heart rate had already dropped dangerously low.

Falsified medical records

The OBGYN performed a C-section. Upon birth, however, the baby was not breathing and had no heartbeat. Although medical records indicated that a pediatrician had been present at the birth, later, an attending nurse admitted that this wasn't the case and that no pediatrician was present.

After trying to resuscitate the baby for six minutes, a respiratory therapist finally administered a breathing tube, which was placed in the baby's stomach, rather than in the lungs where it should be.

If only a pediatrician were present, the mistake would have been corrected immediately. It eventually took ultimately took 26 minutes for the baby to achieve a normal heart rate. Permanent damage had already been done, as the baby had developed quadriplegic cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen during and after the birthing process.

The $7.5 million settlement awarded in this cerebral palsy case will go towards paying for the vital lifelong care this baby needs to survive.

Cerebral palsy causes

Cerebral palsy is an incurable, devastating condition that impairs speech, coordination, movement and health brain function. Fetal development problems and/or medical mistakes made during (and after) delivery typically cause the brain damage that results in cerebral palsy.

While any medical mistake that deprives a baby of oxygen will contribute to cerebral palsy, some of the most common cerebral palsy causes include:

• excessive use of vacuum extraction

• failure to perform immediate C-section

• unrecognized (or untreated) fetal distress

• use of certain medications during the delivery process

If you have a family member living with cerebral palsy see a medical attorney or cerebral palsy lawyer for information regarding your legal rights.

Cerebral palsy information

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition caused by damage to the brain. Often, this condition occurs immediately before, during or shortly after birth. Cerebral palsy results in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination.

Types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic cerebral palsy
• Athetoid cerebral palsy
• Ataxic cerebral palsy
• Mixed cerebral palsy.
  

Cerebral palsy is incurable, but with the right therapy, education and a lot of medical assistance, some patients were able to lead productive lives.

In severe cases, however, where there is total loss of coordination or even paralysis, patients may be totally dependent on external assistance from family and medical communities throughout their entire lives.

One of the causes of Cerebral Palsy is lack of oxygen during birth.

Oxygen deprivation that leads to cerebral palsy can be due to a number of reasons:

• Premature separation of the placenta,
• baby is too large for the birth canal or pelvis,
• too long or too abrupt of labor,
• awkward and/or breech deliveries,
• cord entanglement,
• excessive pitocin,
• shoulder dystocia,
• failure to order timely cesarean (c-section),
• placenta abruptus,
• excessive force or use of vacuum or forceps, and
• ruptured uterus.

Symptoms of oxygen deprivation may include but are not limited to the following:

• low apgar scores,
• acidosis (low ph),
• blue skin tone,
• seizures,
• cerebral edema,
• difficulty breathing on its own, and
  
• severely bruised at birth (this may serve as evidence of forced delivery or excessive trauma).

If during the birthing process your child was injured and the medical diagnosis includes any of the following, then there may be evidence of a birthing injury to your child that has resulted in cerebral palsy.

Here's a list of some important cerebral palsy symptoms:

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,
• birth asphyxia ,
• static encephalopathy ,
• neonatal depression ,
• traumatic birth, and
  
• developmental delays.
  

Note: A diagnosis of cerebral palsy cannot be confirmed until a thorough review of all relevant medical records and fetal heart monitor strips by a Cerebral Palsy doctor or other Cerebral Palsy expert has been made.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and you believe that it may have been caused by a medical mistake or medical negligence (doctor malpractice), then read more about cerebral palsy law, where to find cerebral palsy attorneys and how to file a malpractice or medical lawsuit.