Los Angeles Injury Lawyer Blog

This is part two in a series of three relating to birth injuries in Los Angeles County.

Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a term that is used to describe a group of chronic conditions that result from injury to the brain, usually occurring before, during or shortly after birth. It generally affects motor function - how the body moves. Children with cerebral palsy may have mild symptoms affecting coordination or may be completely unable to control motor function, making it impossible to sit or stand independently.

Cerebral palsy can occur when oxygen to the fetus is interrupted during labor or delivery. Monitoring of the baby during labor is done to detect changes in the baby's heart rate which may signal a problem. If the amount of oxygen the baby is getting is reduced or cut off during labor, the baby's heart rate will change and its ability to recover from the stress caused by contractions will diminish, signaling a potentially catastrophic injury if appropriate medical intervention is not taken in a timely fashion.

It is the job of the obstetrical nurse to monitor the fetus during labor and communicate any significant changes in the fetal heart rate and tone to the obstetrician in a timely fashion. It is the doctor's duty to respond promptly if conservative measures (changing the mother's position, administering oxygen to her, for example) do not improve the fetal heart rate.

If the nurse is unskilled or inattentive, she may not appreciate the fact that the baby is in distress, putting the baby at risk of injury. A doctor who does not respond to a nurse's concern in a timely fashion also puts the baby at risk. Over time, the lack of oxygen can cause the brain damage that results in cerebral palsy.

Continue reading "Southern California Cerebral Palsey Resulting from Medical Malpractice" »

This is the first in a series of three relating to birth injuries in Southern California

Every year, hundreds of babies in Los Angeles County are born into the world seriously handicapped because of medical negligence. Birth injuries are among the most devastating injuries that can occur when a doctor or nurse is careless or inattentive. If a mother's prenatal course is routine and there is no indication of any problems with the fetus she is carrying, the parents anxiously await their new arrival. They pick out names and dream about the future with their new little boy or girl.

When things go awry during the labor or delivery and the baby is born with brain damage or is otherwise injured, everything the parents hoped for and planned is shattered. The baby may have to remain in the hospital long after the mother is discharged, so there are frequent trips back to the hospital. Preparing the home for the baby's discharge is no longer about the color of the nursery or the style of the crib. There may be equipment that must be obtained and medical techniques to be learned.

Caring for a special needs child is a full-time job for one of the parents. Sadly, the full impact of the injury to a birth-injured child often will not be evident until the child is several years old. A special needs infant is easy to carry; a four-year old who cannot sit or walk is much more difficult to transport. Even transferring such a child from his bed to a wheelchair can be challenging. It is often at this point that the parents realize what the future will hold for them and their child. It is also at this point when they are likely to ask why it happened. This is also the point at which the parents may consult a lawyer.

What are the most common causes of birth injury and how can they be prevented? We will look at these issues in the next installments of this series.