Understanding the Types of Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy from Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Bend, Oregon
While the birth of a child is usually one of the happiest days in the life of a parent, unfortunately there are times when a birth goes catastrophically wrong, resulting in permanent injuries or even wrongful death. One type of injury that can occur as a result of an injury during birth or in utero is cerebral palsy. It is believed that cerebral palsy occurs when there is a lack of oxygen to the brain, resulting in brain damage. One type of cerebral palsy that can occur as a result of an injury during birth or in utero is dyskinetic cerebral palsy. While there are instances in which dyskinetic cerebral palsy is unavoidable, far too often this type of cerebral palsy occurs due to the error or negligence of a medical professional. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Bend, Oregon wants to explain what the different types of dyskinetic cerebral palsy are and the warning signs when a birth injury may have been caused by a negligent healthcare provider.
Here at Kuhlman Law, we offer victims and their families dedicated services and support. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Bend can help review cases for victims and their families. We will obtain medical record and consult with medical experts to determine whether your loved one’s cerebral palsy was caused by the preventable and negligent actions of another healthcare provider. Unlike other personal injury law firms, our medical malpractice lawyer in Oregon does not farm out cases to other law firms. Rather, our medical malpractice lawyer is the attorney who handles your birth injury case. No matter what type of dyskinetic cerebral palsy you may have, we will be the one responsible for handling your case. To earn more about your rights and how we may be able to help you and your family, call us today to schedule a FREE consultation.
Cerebral Palsy Explained by Our Birth Injury Lawyer in Bend
As mentioned above, cerebral palsy is a condition that causes impairment in movement, muscle tone, posture, and balance. Cerebral palsy is actually a group of disorders, as there are different types of cerebral palsy. The type of cerebral palsy that a child is diagnosed with is based on where in the brain that the damage occurred. The four main types of cerebral palsy include the following:
- Ataxic CP – Ataxic CP causes difficulty with balance and walking. Typically, people with this type of CP have difficulty with tremors and have frequent, shaky movements. This type of CP is caused by damage to the cerebellum.
- Spastic CP – Spastic CP is the most common form of cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor cortex of the brain and causes abnormally tight and stiff muscles.
- Dyskinetic CP – Dyskinetic CP is also referred to as athetoid cerebral palsy. This type of CP can be particularly difficult to manage from day to day, as it causes involuntary movements. Dyskinetic CP is caused by damage to the basal ganglia in the brain.
- Mixed CP – Victims with mixed cerebral palsy have brain damage in more than one area of the brain, resulting in a multitude of symptoms.
Common Causes of Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
There are many different causes of dyskinetic CP, with the majority of them happening shortly before birth, during birth, or just after birth. Some of the most common causes of this type of CP include the following:
- Anoxic brain injuries
- Overuse or overdose of Pitocin
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
- Placental abruption
- Improper monitoring of accelerations and decelerations during labor and delivery
- Negligent use of vacuum extraction, forceps or other extraction tools
- Failure to identify and treat umbilical cord prolapse and umbilical cord rupture
- Delay in performing a c-section that is considered an emergency
- Failure to schedule a planned section and opting for a vaginal birth when it is contraindicated based on the condition of the mother and baby
- Other causes of dyskinetic cerebral palsy that our medical malpractice lawyer in Bend, Oregon can handle for you.
Symptoms Most Commonly Seen in Children With Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
There are certain symptoms that can indicate your child may have dyskinetic cerebral palsy. At birth, it may be apparent that your child suffered a brain injury while there are instances in which it may not be apparent until the child gets a little older. Time is of the essence when it comes to providing infants and children with dyskinetic CP the help they need to function as normally as possible. A delay in receiving that help can lead to a poorer quality of life. Some of the most common symptoms of dyskinetic CP include the following:
- Athetosis – This is actually a type of dyskinetic cerebral palsy that results in slow curling movements, and twitching. These movements often occur when a child is moving as well as when they are at rest. Symptoms of this subtype of dyskinetic CP include hypertonia or hypotonia, involuntary movements, difficulty performing activities of daily living (i.e. speaking, eating, etc.), twisting movements, impairment of fine motor skills, and involuntary movements that only cease when the person is sleeping.
- Dystonia – This is another type of dyskinetic CP that causes involuntary contraction of the muscles. These muscle contractions most commonly occur in the feet and hands, but can occur in the rest of the limbs as well. Like athetosis, this type of CP also causes slow and repetitive movements. Involuntary movements are worse when the person is moving. Other signs of dystonia include jerky and fast movements, and a worsening of symptoms when the person is upset or stressed.
- Chorea – This is another type of dyskinetic CP that causes victims to have involuntary, erratic and unpredictable movements. Sometimes these movements appear to be very rhythmic.
Warning Signs When Cerebral Palsy May Have Been Caused by the Negligence of a Healthcare Provider
Although cerebral palsy, including the different types of dyskinetic cerebral palsy, can be caused by natural or unavoidable consequences, that is not always the case. In fact, some forms of cerebral palsy may be caused be preventable instances of medical negligence. In these instances, a victim may have suffered needlessly. That means that a family may face preventable damages due to the negligence of a healthcare provider. When that happens, Oregon may allow victims and their families the right to compensation.
But this is not always easy to determine. In fact, it can be very different to determine whether a victim’s types of dyskinetic cerebral palsy were caused by medical malpractice or not. Sometimes this means that families may have hard decisions and difficult discussions. Unfortunately, most healthcare providers and insurance carriers will try to shift blame away from them and call the injuries a natural and unavoidable consequence of the birthing process.
That’s not always true. Some of the warning signs of medical malpractice causing dyskinetic cerebral palsy include the following:
- Unexpected complications
- A normal delivery that becomes an emergency c-section
- Delays in treating bleeding or extreme pain
- When a family practice doctor calls in an OB-GYN or a fetal-maternal medicine doctor
- When an OR time is moved up or ordered immediately
- Doctors will not talk to you or your family after a delivery
- A baby needs to do to the NICU
- Injuries to the baby that are not expected
- Any time a baby is dropped during a delivery
- When a baby is supposed to have an easy prognosis and delivery, but is not crying, is blue, or is rushed out of the room
- When doctors and providers whisper or do not talk to you
- When you do not get to see your baby after a delivery, and
- Other unexpected instances where you believe you may have been victim to medical malpractice in Bend, Oregon.
Damages for Victims and Their Families Affected by Dyskinetic CP
The diagnosis of dyskinetic CP is often a hard diagnosis to accept. This devastating type of birth injury is permanent, meaning that the child will deal with the effects for the rest of their lifetime. Unfortunately, the care for a person with dyskinetic CP can be quite costly, leaving victims and their families financially stressed. If your child’s dyskinetic CP was caused by a medical error, you may be eligible for compensation to cover the cost of your child’s care and medical bills. Damages are awarded most often in the form of compensation. Compensation for this type of CP often includes the following:
- Adaptive equipment (i.e. walker, wheelchair, etc)
- Orthotics (i.e. braces)
- Specialized schooling
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Medical bills – Medical bills are often lifelong and costly.
- Nursing care – Victims with severe dyskinetic CP may require nursing care.
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering – The physical and emotional pain and suffering that victims and their families sustain as a result of the child’s diagnosis and impairment of their quality of life
- Rehabilitation – Physical, occupational, and other types of therapies are often ongoing and lifelong.
- Any other type of specialized care
- Punitive damages – This is when the doctor or other healthcare provider was negligent to a degree that shocks the conscious and is morally reprehensible
- Other damages for victims and their families affected by the types of dyskinetic cerebral palsy that our medical malpractice lawyer in Bend, Oregon can recover for you.
Did You Loved One Suffer from Any of the Types of Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy? Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Oregon for Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.