In some cases, cerebral palsy occurs with no known cause. But there are situations in which a child suffers from cerebral palsy due to negligence or medical malpractice.
Approximately 10,000 American children are born each year with cerebral palsy. While the majority of these cases cannot be attributed to any one factor, some of them are the result of mistakes during delivery that could have been prevented.
Lack of oxygen to the brain can cause brain damage, which can result in cerebral palsy. If the infant is left in the birth canal for too long, he may not receive enough oxygen. Another danger is if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby’s neck. This can be a common occurrence, but the doctor must be aware of the prolapsed cord and take immediate action to prevent injury to the child. If the mother continues to push during contractions, the cord may tighten and cut off air supply to the infant.
If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck, it should affect the fetal heart rate, which should be closely monitored by the attending physician. Oftentimes, a cesarean section is the safest delivery option in the presence of fetal distress.
In some births, a physician may not realize that an infant should have been born via c-section until it is too late for the operation. If a mother’s pubic bone is small or if a baby is larger than average, then the infant may get stuck in the birth canal. A physician can resort to vacuum extraction or the use of forceps. Either choice, if used incorrectly, can cause brain damage, resulting in cerebral palsy.
After the birth, doctors must monitor and treat infants, particularly for seizures or jaundice. Either condition, if not promptly and correctly treated can cause cerebral palsy.
references:
http://www.medicalmalpractice.com/resources/medical-malpractice/childbirth-malpractice/cerebral-palsy-negligence.htm
http://www.blogserp.com/story.php?title=who-is-responsible-for-my-child-%E2%80%99s-cerebral-palsy