Families across Anne Arundel County turn to Severna Park cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and birth-injury attorney Kerry Staton when they need answers.
Compassion drives every case we accept.
We know a CP diagnosis changes everything, and our entire team at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. uses decades of malpractice experience to secure the resources your child will need for life. Call (410) 234-1000 for a free, confidential case review. Let us begin securing your child’s future today.
Was My Child’s Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Negligence?
Cerebral palsy is a permanent brain injury that limits movement, muscle tone, and posture. Not every case stems from malpractice, yet many arise when doctors ignore danger signs during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Our Severna Park CP lawyer team starts every investigation by listening to your story and reviewing medical charts for red flags.
Brain damage most often results from oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) during a difficult birth, but head trauma, untreated jaundice, or maternal infections can be culprits too. When staff misses these problems or reacts too slowly, the baby may suffer an injury that could have been prevented.
What Medical Mistakes During Childbirth Can Cause Cerebral Palsy?
Preventable errors turn normal deliveries into lifelong injuries. Below are the common, and several less common, mistakes we see in Severna Park birth-injury cases. Each one increases the risk of oxygen loss or direct brain trauma:
- Delayed C-Section – clear fetal distress demands swift surgery; hesitation extends hypoxia.
- Failure to Monitor Fetal Heart Rate – abnormal tracings ignored for minutes can mean permanent damage.
- Improper Forceps or Vacuum Use – excessive force fractures skulls and bleeds delicate brain tissue.
- Untreated Maternal Infections – illnesses like toxoplasmosis inflame the fetal brain when left unchecked.
- Pitocin or Anesthesia Errors – drug mis-dosing overstimulates contractions or drops maternal blood pressure.
- Umbilical-Cord Complications – wrapped or prolapsed cords require instant intervention to restore oxygen.
- Placental Abruption or Jaundice Mismanagement – though less frequent, both cause rapid, irreversible injury when unnoticed.
These failures occur in large Baltimore teaching hospitals and local Anne Arundel facilities alike. If any detail echoes your experience, proving the connection is the next step.
How Can I Prove My Doctor’s Negligence Caused My Baby’s Cerebral Palsy?
Four legal elements must align.
- A doctor-patient relationship creates a duty of care;
- the provider breaches that duty;
- the breach directly causes injury;
- the injury produces measurable damages.
Our birth-injury attorneys gather prenatal and delivery records, fetal monitor strips, Apgar scores, and NICU notes. Nationally respected obstetric and neurology experts compare those records to accepted standards, and Maryland’s required Certificate of Qualified Expert is secured early so your claim moves forward without delay. You focus on your child’s therapy while we assemble evidence that speaks louder than hospital excuses.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Responsibility often extends beyond one physician. The delivering obstetrician, attending nurses, anesthesiologists, and the hospital itself may share fault. Under Maryland’s doctrine of respondeat superior, hospitals answer for negligent employees. When institutions label doctors “independent contractors,” we dig into contracts and schedules to reveal true control. Equipment manufacturers can also be liable if a monitor or vacuum extractor fails. Identifying every responsible party maximizes the funds available for your child’s care.
What Is the Time Limit to File a Cerebral Palsy Malpractice Lawsuit in Maryland?
Deadlines are strict even when life feels chaotic. Maryland Courts & Judicial Proceedings § 5-109 allows five years from the injury, or three years from discovery, whichever is earlier, to sue. For a minor, the period can extend until the 21st birthday, but evidence fades quickly. Our Severna Park cerebral palsy attorneys file the mandatory claim with the Health Care ADR Office and all court pleadings on time, safeguarding your child’s right to justice. Don’t delay. A missed deadline can bar your claim forever.
