Ataxic Cerebral Palsy from Medical Malpractice

If Your Child Was Diagnosed With Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, One of Our Lawyers Can Help

Medical negligence can have severe implications for both the individual and their family. One of the most common types is Cerebral Ataxic Palsy, a neurologic disorder that affects motor functions and speech. It can be caused by a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the fetus during pregnancy, an infection in the mother’s uterus, or trauma to the pregnant woman before birth. Some people who experience this type of brain damage may not walk well or talk properly because they suffer from paralysis on one side of their body (hemiplegia) and muscle weakness because only part of their muscles work together when they move (hemiparesis).

Cerebral Ataxic Palsy Explained

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, one of the four primary types, occurs due to cerebellum damage, affecting coordination and balance. Consequently, it disrupts everyday activities such as walking, talking, and reaching. Ataxia, characterized by coordination difficulties and abnormal gait, further contributes to these challenges.

Ataxic Cerebral palsy can be caused by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) or asphyxia (lack of oxygen to the brain). The lack of oxygen can result from placental insufficiency, uterine rupture, umbilical cord compression, prolonged labor, umbilical cord prolapse, amniotic fluid embolism, trauma during delivery, and asphyxia neonatorum.

Ataxic cerebral palsy can be static or dynamic, affecting motor skills like sitting, crawling, walking, and speech.

Cerebral Ataxic Palsy Symptoms

• lack of muscle coordination that causes an individual to move unsteadily and with a wide gait

• loss of balance and coordination; such as unsteadiness and clumsiness

• move awkwardly, resulting in problems with speech and the inability to eat without assistance

• hyperactivity

• epilepsy (seizures)

• intellectual disabilities

• delayed development of motor skills such as sitting up, crawling, and walking

Causes of Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Causes include the following:

• Failure to perform a timely cesarean section

• Slow response to fetal distress

• Delay in attending to the umbilical cord

• Failure to recognize uterine rupture, amniotic fluid embolism, or fetal distress

• Delay in attending to the newborn infant

Treatment of Cerebral Ataxic Palsy Injuries

Treatment for this varies based on sub-type. Physical and occupational therapies aim to improve strength, coordination, and speech. However, in some cases, permanent injury may remain despite interventions.

If Your Newborn Was Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Call a Birth Injury Lawyer for Help

If medical malpractice caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you may seek financial compensation. These cases often succeed due to clear evidence linking negligence to the injury. If you suspect medical malpractice, follow these steps:

1. Obtain a complete copy of all prenatal records. If there was a diagnosis of placenta previa, this might constitute a failure to diagnose a complication that can lead to cerebral ataxic palsy.

2. Obtain copies of all records from the birth itself, including fetal monitoring strips, doctors’ notes, nursing notes, and epidural documents.

3. Consult with a physician who specializes in neurology to help you understand what happened during the birth process that could have caused brain damage. The more information you can provide your attorney, the better your chances of recovering financial compensation for all your losses.

4. Contact a qualified cerebral palsy attorney to discuss filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against the at-fault party(ies).

An experienced cerebral palsy attorney can help you recover compensation for:

• Lost earnings and future earning capacity (you may be able to recover 100 percent of projected future earnings)

• Pain and suffering (the child’s pain and suffering is compensable, as well as your own)

• Medical expenses (past and continuing)

• Rehabilitation costs (both past and ongoing)

This compensation can be used to help you care for the child with cerebral palsy. It can also be used to help you care for other children in the family, if necessary. If your child suffers from ataxic cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, then contact one of our experienced cerebral palsy attorneys to discuss filing a lawsuit for compensation on your behalf located here at Medical Malpractice Universe.