Mr. David Willis is a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is licensed in both Texas and New York. The Willis Law Firm, a Texas-based law firm has a strong national presence and recognition. Mr. Willis, a former attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas, has gained a national reputation as a leading personal injury lawyer.  He specializes in the prosecution of serious injury cases, including cerebral palsy lawsuit litigation, cerebral palsy medical malpractice lawsuits against, doctors, nurses & hospitals, paralysis, brain damage, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and claims against pharmaceutical companies and other products liability defendants & entities. (Read more: Cerebral Palsy Attorney) 

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I.  Cerebral Palsy - Overview

Cerebral Palsy is a condition caused by damage to the brain, usually occurring immediately before, during or shortly after birth. The term cerebral palsy is not a diagnosis, but rather it provides a useful therapeutic classification for children with involuntary movements, in coordination and static spastic paresis. It is not curable, but with therapy, education and extensive medical assistance, some patients with Cerebral Palsy can adjust and lead productive lives. However, those with severe Cerebral Palsy, unfortunately, their lives may be totally dependent on the assistance of families, medical communities and others entities for their entire lives.  

II.  A Cause of Cerebral Palsy - Lack of Oxygen During Birth

During the birth, many times the child’s ability to obtain needed oxygen is a chief cause of Cerebral Palsy.  It may result from premature separation of the placenta, too large of baby for the birth canal or pelvis, too long or too abrupt of labor, awkward and/or breech deliveries, cord entanglement, excessive Pitocin, shoulder dystocia, failure to order timely cesarean (c-section), placenta abruptus, excessive force or use of vacuum or forceps, and ruptured uterus.  Infant’s symptoms of oxygen deprivation may include but are not limited to:

• low apgar scores
• acidosis (low ph)
• blue skin tone
• seizures
• cerebral edema
• difficulty breathing on its own
• severely bruised at birth (evidence of forced delivery or excessive trauma during birth)

If your child was injured during the birthing process and the medical diagnosis includes any of the following, then there may be evidence of a birthing injury to your child that has resulted in cerebral palsy. Not until a thorough review of all necessary medical records and fetal heart monitor strips by a Cerebral Palsy doctor or other Cerebral Palsy expert, can a diagnosis of cerebral palsy be confirmed. Some important indications of cerebral palsy may include any of the following:

• Hypoxic – Ischemic Encephalopathy ,
• Birth Asphyxia ,
• Static Encephalopathy ,
• Neonatal Depression ,
• Traumatic Birth or
• Developmental Delays 

 IV.  Categories of Cerebral Palsy - Types : 

Spastic Cerebral Palsy- Spastic syndromes are the most common, representing about 70% of all Cerebral Palsy cases.  The spasticity is due to upper motor neuron involvement and may mildly or severely affect motor function.  The affected limbs appear stiff and difficult to move.  These limbs are usually underdeveloped and show increased deep tendon reflexes and muscular hypertonicity, weakness and a tendency to contractures.Athetoid Cerebral Palsy- Athetoid or dyskinetic syndromes occur in about 20% of the Cerebral Palsy cases and usually result from basal ganglia involvement.  The resultant slow writhing, involuntary or uncontrolled movements may affect the extremities (athetoid) or proximal parts of the limbs and trunk  Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - Ataxic Syndromes are very uncommon, usually affecting less than 10% of the Cerebral Palsy cases and result from involvement of the cerebellum or its pathways and produce weakness, incoordination, wide-based gait, imbalance and difficulty in depth perception.

Cerebral Palsy appears to be categorized in the above three main types. Mixed forms of the above three are also common, most often a mixture is that of spastic cerebral palsy and athetoid cerebral palsy .        

V.  Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit - Medical Malpractice Legal Actions

If your baby has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and you believe that the medical providers (OB/GYN,Doctors, Nurses, and/or assistants and hospital staff) actions or omissions contributed to your child’s present condition or you have been told that the diagnosis or symptoms indicate that a birth trauma or birth injury may have injured your child, then you may have a legal action for medical malpractice.Medical Malpractice is a based on evidence of a negligent act  and/or  omission by  a doctor, hospital, nurse or other health care provider which proximately caused or contributed to the injuries or damages  to  the child. In order to make a claim for medical malpractice, there must be a departure from an accepted custom or practice which caused the injury. In these  cases medical experts must be hired  to help prove  the negligent act or omission and testify as to what the standard of care is AND whether such acts caused the child’s injuries. Other experts ranging from nursing experts, economists,  future life care planners (cost of  past and future medical  treatments, nursing care, education,  evaluations,  home care, modifications, ..etc), and other experts needed to prove the injuries and damages suffered by the child and their  parents.

VI.  Talk to a Lawyer about a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

 If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and you believe that it may have been caused by a medical mistake or medical negligence (medical malpractice),then call us to discuss what can be done to protect your legal rights under the law. Call and get a Free Confidential Consultation from a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with over 22+ years of experience. Call Toll Free 1-800-883-9858 or fill out this Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Case Evaluation Form

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