Is Your Baby Living with Paralysis Due to Negligence? Our Attorneys Can Help.
Birth paralysis injuries happen more often in the United States than expecting parents may think. Many case instances are rooted in negligence on the part of the attending physician, nurse, and/or hospital staff. Unfortunately, these attending medical professionals may be reluctant to disclose whether the baby’s paralysis was preventable.
At Cullan & Cullan, we are committed to seeking justice on the injured’s behalf. As doctor lawyers, we can delve into the medical details of your child’s birth paralysis injury to see what might have caused it and if negligence had any role.
Call us at (816) 253-8606 for a free and confidential consultation with a member of our Cullan & Cullan legal team.
What Causes Birth Paralysis?
Birth paralysis injuries can come in many forms, with each type arising from various complications. Incidents of paralysis caused by a medical professional’s malpractice include, but are not limited to:
- Improper monitoring of labor
- Improper use of forceps and/or vacuum extractors
- Improper use of Pitocin
- Failure to deliver a timely cesarean section
- Failure to address an infection
- Failure to address oxygen deprivation and/or fetal distress
- Mishandled shoulder dystocia
It may be hard to decipher on your own whether your doctor committed malpractice, but your own experience at the hospital can be quite telling. For example, did you undergo a prolonged labor with little help from attending physicians, midwives, nurses and/or hospital staff? Or did they ignore your self-reported symptoms? Did you notice them using forceps on more than one occasion or both forceps and a vacuum extractor?
Keep in mind, in order to establish that a medical professional is liable for your injury, you will have to prove that:
- The medical professional owed you a professional standard of care, as evidenced by a patient-physician relationship
- The medical professional committed actions, or failed to carry out actions, that resulted in care below the professional standard
- These actions or omissions caused you injury
Is There a Cure for Birth Paralysis?
Medically speaking, there is no prescription you can take to “cure” birth paralysis, but there is medication available that can ease some associated pain. Additionally, there are treatment options that may help rehabilitate an infant’s control over their limbs. Physical therapy can greatly help, which is why suddenly paralyzed adults frequently seek it out as treatment. For some conditions, a medical professional may prescribe speech therapy, occupational therapy or other types of therapy aimed at addressing particular issues your child may encounter. In other cases, surgery may be required to treat nerve damage. In most cases, paralysis can be a lifelong disability.
Should I Hire an Attorney?
No matter the severity of the paralysis, if it was caused by malpractice, then you should be compensated for the great harm and trauma brought upon you and your child. Childbirth is supposed to be a joyous time for a family, and we understand how devastating it can be to have it marked with tragedy instead. Our attorneys can help you cut through the legal red tape to bring the negligent party to justice while providing caring, conscientious legal counsel to you and your family during this difficult time.
Contact Cullan & Cullan online to speak to a Kansas City birth paralysis lawyer. We accept cases throughout Missouri, as well as some select cases across the nation.