Parents who learn that their child has cerebral palsy are immediately thrust into an unfamiliar world of medical jargon, therapy schedules, and lifelong financial questions. We understand that world because our Pasadena cerebral palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor and birth-injury lawyer Kerry Staton have guided families through it for nearly four decades.
Our firm, Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., has recovered millions for children hurt by preventable medical errors, and we stand ready to do the same for your family. From Glen Burnie to Lake Shore, we offer free, no-pressure consultations at (410) 234-1000 or wherever is convenient for you.
What Is Cerebral Palsy and Could It Have Been Prevented in My Child’s Case?
Cerebral palsy is a group of non-progressive neurological disorders that affects muscle control and posture. In the United States, it appears in roughly three of every 1,000 children.
Brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth, often caused by oxygen deprivation, infection, or physical trauma, interferes with normal motor-control centers. Because the injury does not worsen over time, children generally show the same core limitations throughout life, even though the specific challenges evolve with age.
Some causes of cerebral palsy are truly unpreventable, such as rare prenatal genetic complications. Many others, however, stem from avoidable medical mistakes. When doctors miss signs of fetal distress, delay a C-section, or misuse delivery tools, preventable brain injuries can result. Knowing the difference is critical, and our Pasadena birth-injury attorneys will investigate at no cost to you.
Is Cerebral Palsy a Birth Injury or a Birth Defect?
A birth defect develops before labor and is usually linked to genetics or prenatal factors. A birth injury is physical harm that occurs during labor, delivery, or the immediate neonatal period. When cerebral palsy results from oxygen loss or trauma in the delivery room, it is a birth injury, not a hereditary defect.
Why does this distinction matter? Birth injuries may signal negligence, opening the door to legal compensation, whereas true birth defects typically do not involve malpractice. If a Pasadena hospital’s mistakes deprived your baby of oxygen, you deserve clear answers and accountability.
What Medical Mistakes Can Cause Cerebral Palsy?
Medical professionals train for obstetric emergencies, and most comply with safety protocols. Cerebral palsy often develops when those safeguards break down. Common errors include:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress-ignoring an abnormal heart-rate strip.
- Delayed C-section despite warning signs of oxygen deprivation.
- Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors that injure a newborn’s skull or spine.
- Untreated maternal infections or preeclampsia that compromise oxygen supply.
- Medication errors, such as excessive Pitocin causing dangerously strong contractions.
Less-Frequent but Serious Errors
- Undiagnosed umbilical-cord prolapse cutting off blood flow.
- Anesthesia complications that trigger severe maternal hypotension.
- Failure to treat newborn jaundice leading to kernicterus.
- Neglecting proven cooling therapy after a hypoxic-ischemic event.
Each scenario is avoidable with proper vigilance. When lapses occur, the Pasadena cerebral palsy attorneys at our firm marshal medical experts to pinpoint exactly where the standard of care failed.
How Can I Tell if My Child’s Cerebral Palsy Was Caused by Medical Negligence?
Several red flags suggest malpractice:
- A long, difficult labor followed by an emergency C-section.
- Resuscitation, NICU admission, or an HIE diagnosis immediately after birth.
- Visible bruising or head trauma inconsistent with routine delivery.
- Hospital staff who avoid or contradict each other’s explanations about what happened.
Parents should not shoulder the investigative burden alone. We obtain full medical records, consult independent neonatologists, and reconstruct the timeline to determine whether negligence occurred. A no-cost review lets your family focus on your child while we focus on the facts.
