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Mississippi Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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Cerebral palsy (CP) is a grouping of neurological disorders that causes miscommunication between the brain and the body, resulting in difficult with muscle control, movement, and speech. The neurological disorders occur in the part of the brain that affects movement and motor control; it does not occur in muscles or nerves. Cerebral palsy varies in severity but is not a progressive illness. Since it is caused by one particular issue, which may vary in form, that results in trauma to brain, the trauma will not worsen over time. However, the cerebral palsy condition may deteriorate over time in some cases.

The amount of trauma caused to the brain can cause the symptoms to vary quite drastically. In its mildest forms, cerebral palsy can simply cause difficulty controlling the muscles in one hand. With proper physical and occupational therapy, control can be gradually restored. In its most severe forms, it can render the person almost completely immobile. If the trauma was quite severe, the person can become quadriplegic and lose the ability to communicate. It can also cause the brain to not progress at a normal rate. There have been cases of 12-year-old children with CP who had the brain functions of a four-month-old infant.

Cerebral palsy may be diagnosed at birth or sometime in early childhood. Signs of cerebral palsy may include:

difficulty trying to perform voluntary motor functions, such as moving a hand or arm or reaching for a toy
tight muscles
walking with splayed legs
walking on toes
hearing impairments
speech impairments
visual impairments
seizures
learning disabilities

What causes cerebral palsy?

Most children who have cerebral palsy are born with the condition. For these cases of CP, which account for approximately 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases, the causes are usually unknown. Factors that may attribute to the development of cerebral palsy while a fetus is still in the uterus include, but are not limited to, a mother's contraction of the measles while pregnant; a mother's development of a fever while pregnant; incompatible blood/RH factors between the mother and fetus; medication or drugs given the mother while pregnant; or the mother's development of a bacterial infection while pregnant.

Approximately 10 percent of cerebral palsy cases are the result of some sort of brain injury that occurs after birth. Causes of CP in infants may include a brain infection such as meningitis, or brain trauma from a car accident, fall, or child abuse.

The remaining 20 percent of cerebral palsy cases occur during the birthing process. Asphyxia may occur from a premature separation of the placenta, strangulation by the umbilical cord, or other complications. Bleeding of the brain may come from pressure related to a vaginal delivery or some sort of trauma during the birth process.

Why should I contact a legal professional about my child's cerebral palsy?

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it is recommended that you consult an attorney who is familiar with medical malpractice law in Mississippi. CP can be caused while in the womb or up to three years after birth.

When a child is born, time is of the essence. It is at this period that a child's brain is most susceptible to injury and any slight error can have life-altering consequences. While medical professionals do what they can to avoid birth complications, including using devices to monitor the health of an infant during labor, errors and mistakes are still possible. For instance, if the brain is lacking oxygen at birth, it can cause CP. There are a variety of ways that a physician could be at fault for your child's disability. Waiting too long to perform a caesarean section and failure to diagnose fetal distress are two possible birth injuries a doctor could be responsible for that could possibly result in cerebral palsy.

If you believe that your child's cerebral palsy may be the result of a birth injury that could have been avoided, or was the result of medical negligence, you are strongly recommended to seek legal counsel in Mississippi.

When your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy it can be a stressful time for you and your family. CP presents people with a lifelong challenge that affects children and families. By educating yourself and finding means of support and assistance, you can learn how to manage cerebral palsy and take more control over how it affects your life and your child's life. Legal assistance may help you accomplish this.