Tag Archives: cerebral palsy attorney

Hydrocephalus from Birth Trauma: Symptoms and Prognosis

Hydrocephalus, once known as “water on the brain,” is a condition in which there is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. The fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is a clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord that keeps brain tissue buoyant, delivers nutrients to the brain and removes waste, and flows between the cranium and spine to compensate for changes in the amount of blood in the brain. With hydrocephalus, the excess CSF causes an abnormal widening of the four ventricles in the brain, which leads to harmful pressure on brain tissue. This form of brain damage can manifest itself as cerebral palsy, a birth injury that results from damage to the cerebrum, which controls motor skills, sensory functions and cognitive thought. Hydrocephalus falls into two categories in terms of its causation: congenital hydrocephalus, when it is present at birth and caused by something that happened during…
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Medical Malpractice During Childbirth and Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition that affects around 800,000 people in the United States, and about 10,000 U.S. babies will develop cerebral palsy every year. Various factors can cause cerebral palsy, including intrauterine development problems and trauma during labor and delivery. Some cerebral palsy cases have no identifiable cause, and some cases result from circumstances beyond anyone’s control. However, the most common cause of cerebral palsy is birth trauma. If your child has cerebral palsy, your medical care providers may be to blame. A cerebral palsy attorney can review your medical records and case facts to determine if you may be entitled to compensation. Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy refers to a group of motor conditions that affect a person’s body movement. Doctors typically diagnose cerebral palsy during a child’s first 18 months, although symptoms may appear in babies as young as three months. While cerebral palsy disorders are non-progressive…
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Drugs that Can Lead to Birth Defects

The use of thalidomide by pregnant women in the 1950s and early 1960s is a tragic example of the consequences of using untested drugs. When scientists first discovered it, they touted it as a wonder drug that functioned as a tranquilizer and painkiller and prevented morning sickness. Women in Canada and Europe were the first to use it, and more than 10,000 children were born with deformities when the drug was most popular. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ultimately rejected an application to market thalidomide, arguing that the drug required further testing. The thalidomide scare prompted important changes in how governments regulate drugs that pregnant women may take. The United States Congress passed significantly stricter laws for approving drugs. Thalidomide appears to be making a comeback, however, as researchers have again noticed its effectiveness in treating certain medical conditions. Pregnant women for whom doctors have…
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