Learning that your child has cerebral palsy can raise painful questions about what happened during pregnancy or delivery. Cerebral palsy has many possible causes, so the diagnosis alone does not prove that a doctor made a mistake.
However, a doctor may be responsible when a preventable medical error causes the brain injury that led to your child’s condition. If you have questions about the care your child received and suspect a birth injury, a Chicago, IL medical malpractice lawyer can help investigate what happened.
When Can Cerebral Palsy Be Caused by Medical Malpractice?
Cerebral palsy affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance. It results from damage to the developing brain or abnormal brain development.
The CDC reports that a lack of oxygen during birth causes only a small number of cerebral palsy cases, and many cases have nothing to do with malpractice. Premature birth and infections are among the other known risk factors.