Brain Damage: At Least Ten Percent

Determining the most likely cause of brain injuries in newborns requires additional research, according to a new study released by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The study was undertaken to determine just how often oxygen deprivation at birth contributes to negative outcomes.

The findings were sobering. For children suffering from cerebral palsy, a low estimate is that ten percent of cases can be traced back to medical error during delivery. The study portrays this as a low number, but for ten percent of the people who suffer this tragic disability be due to preventable error is devastating.

Thankfully, the study provides a series of steps to determine whether medical error likely played a role in birth defect. This type of information, on an ongoing basis, can form a basis for developing new treatments and methods to lessen the occurrence of infant brain damage. Parents are advised to ask about:

• Low Apgar scores lasting through ten minutes after birth
• High levels of acid in the umbilical artery
• Major organ failure
• Certain cerebral injuries being visible on an MRI

Having a child with a disability puts a lot of stress on a family, both psychologically and financially. Affording all the necessary treatments to enhance a child’s quality of life can quickly bankrupt all but the wealthiest families. Please, if you child suffers from a birth defect, and you suspect that oxygen deprivation played a role, contact a qualified attorney to help you pursue the proper care for your child. Determining the true cause of your child’s disability will often require expensive tests such as umbilical biopsy and MRI, and your attorney can help advise you on how to proceed.