Birth injuries resulting from medical malpractice can take two forms, injuries caused by trauma and injuries caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Either of these two types of injuries may cause paralysis to the infant. Birth paralysis can be mild or severe, depending on the extent of the trauma or how long the infant was deprived of oxygen or blood to the brain.
There are various types of paralysis that can occur from medical negligence:
- Cerebral palsy - Neurological disorders which permanently affect muscle coordination and body movement
- Quadriplegia – Both the legs and arms are immobile
- Paraplegia – No control of leg movement or any feeling in the legs
- Diplegia – Paralysis of symmetrical parts of the body
- Klumpkes Palsy – Paralysis that affects just the lower arm, wrist, and hand
- Erbs Palsy – Paralysis of only the shoulder and upper arm
If a doctor does not take immediate action during a breech, or in performing a cesarean c section due to complications such as the baby's head being too big for the birth canal, or an abnormal heart rate in the infant, this could result in a loss of blood flow or oxygen flow to the baby's brain, causing paralysis or cerebral palsy. The extent of the paralysis can be mild or severe. With severe cerebral palsy and certain other types of paralysis, the child will require medical care for life. There are three main types of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy, which results in stiff and difficult movement, athetoid cerebral palsy, characterized by involuntary or uncontrolled movement, and ataxic cerebral palsy, which is a form that causes a distorted sense of balance and depth perception.
A doctor may also cause trauma to the baby during delivery. If the baby is having difficulty exiting the birth canal, a doctor may provide too much force with the forceps extracting the infant, damaging the baby's brain or nerves, which can cause paralysis to the arms, legs, or spinal cord. Physical spinal cord injuries resulting from trauma during the birthing process can cause paraplegia, quadriplegia, or a localized spinal injury such as brachial plexus or erbs palsy, which is partial or complete paralysis of the arm on one side of the body.
An infant who is paralyzed from a birth injury may require a lifetime of medical care, depending on the extent of the paralysis. Treatment is available that may help the child, including physical therapy, speech therapy, medication, and surgery. Since paralysis such as paraplegia, quadriplegia, diplegia, erbs palsy, or cerebral palsy are life-long for the victim, and will require expensive medical care; if a doctor, nurse, medical professional, or medical facility is responsible for the paralysis, they need to pay for the medical care. Obtaining the services of an experienced medical malpractice attorney who specializes in birth injuries, is critical for obtaining the maximum settlement that will provide a lifetime of medical care for your child.