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Questions About Cerebral Palsy

Is cerebral palsy a disease?
No. Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the brain that hinders body movement and various motor functions. The term “cerebral” refers to the brain, while “palsy” refers to impairment of movement. The difficulties that cerebral palsy patients experience are directly related to malformations or damage in the brain, not by any defect in the muscles themselves.

What causes cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centers of a person’s developing brain. This damage can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or after birth up to age three. A person affected with cerebral palsy often experiences problems with depth perception, communication, and cognition in addition to hindered movement.

A mother’s exposure to toxins, infections, and uncontrolled high blood pressure during pregnancy can cause the type of brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy. The inflammation that is a natural part of the body’s infection-fighting process can impair a baby’s developing brain cells. Infections can also cause strokes in the fetus, leading to prolonged oxygen deprivation, which in turn causes the brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy.

How badly will my child be affected by cerebral palsy?
The answer to this question depends upon the type of cerebral palsy, and the extent of the brain damage or malformation that caused it. Some people with cerebral palsy are able to lead relatively normal lives, while others will require constant care and supervision for the rest of their lives.

Can cerebral palsy be prevented?
Careful pre-natal care can significantly reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in infants. Doctors, nurses, and other hospital employees have a responsibility to monitor and manage a pregnant woman’s medical conditions to ensure the unborn baby does not suffer from infection, trauma, or a lack of oxygen. While there is no guarantee that a child will be born perfectly healthy, measures can be taken to lower the odds.

Women with inflammatory pelvic disease, Rubella, or similar diseases that could negatively impact a fetus should have their condition treated before becoming pregnant.

Can cerebral palsy be cured?
No. When brain damage or malformations occur during a child’s development period, they cannot be reversed. Much can be done with modern treatment and technology to improve the quality of life for cerebral palsy patients, but the condition itself is incurable.

While cerebral palsy is unavoidable in some cases, it is all too often the direct result of a medical professional’s negligence during pregnancy, labor, and birth. If a doctor fails to respond to complications during pregnancy, or does not adequately monitor for them, this may be grounds for medical negligence.

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, and you believe it may have been preventable, please contact the experienced birth injury attorneys in NY at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, PC today to schedule a free consultation.

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
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