Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurological condition that affects muscle tone, movement, and posture. It often begins with oxygen deprivation or trauma during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. When those injuries result from avoidable medical mistakes, the harm becomes a matter of medical negligence.
Our Bel Air South cerebral palsy attorneys explain that common errors, such as ignoring fetal distress, delaying an emergency C-section, or misusing delivery tools, can deprive a baby’s brain of vital oxygen in minutes. We highlight the “why” behind each error because families deserve to know whether their child’s challenges were preventable.
How Do I Know If My Child’s Cerebral Palsy Was Caused by Malpractice?
Parents often feel lost after a diagnosis. Clear warning signs help focus the search for answers:
- Unaddressed fetal distress – Abnormal heart tracings that were not acted on.
- Traumatic forceps or vacuum use – Excessive pressure damaging the skull and brain.
- Delayed C-section – Prolonged labor despite distress signals.
- Unresolved cord or placental problems – Known risks the team failed to correct.
- Untreated neonatal crises – Seizures, severe jaundice, or infection left unmanaged.
Our team, led by Bel Air South cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and birth-injury attorney Kerry Staton, obtains medical records, consults neonatologists, and reconstructs the delivery timeline. That expert review tells you whether malpractice, not fate, caused your child’s injuries.
What Birth Injuries or Errors Commonly Lead to Cerebral Palsy?
Oxygen Deprivation (Birth Asphyxia)
Interrupted oxygen flow during birth damages brain tissue. Failures to relieve a twisted umbilical cord or to order a timely C-section are classic examples.
Traumatic Delivery Injuries
Forceful use of forceps or a vacuum extractor can bruise or bleed the infant brain. Improper shoulder-dystocia maneuvers may also injure delicate nerves and tissue.
Untreated Maternal Infections
Group B strep, chorioamnionitis, or high fever can cross the placenta and inflame the baby’s brain when not promptly tested for and treated.
Mismanagement of Labor Medications
Over-stimulation from Pitocin or Cytotec can cause powerful contractions that restrict oxygen. Careful monitoring is essential but too often lacking.
Postnatal Negligence
Failure to treat jaundice, seizures, or respiratory distress in the nursery can transform a manageable condition into permanent cerebral palsy.
Every item on this list is preventable with diligent care. When medical teams break these safety rules, our Bel Air South birth-injury lawyers pursue accountability.
