Cerebral palsy is a debilitating and permanent movement disorder. There are many possible causes, but the root of the cause is abnormal development or damage to parts of the developing brain that affect certain functions. These functions typically include posture, balance, movement, and similar functions. Because of this, there are different types of cerebral palsy conditions and symptoms which relate to the different area of the brain that are damaged.
One such type is athetoid cerebral palsy. This is where the damage to the brain is to the basal ganglia and cerebellum. The basal ganglia is a structure that is in the forebrain and is associated with functions such as control of voluntary movements, procedural learning, and routine behaviors or habits (like eye movements, cognition, emotion). The cerebellum is part of the hindbrain and is associated heavily with motor control (coordination and precision), as well as other cognitive functions like attention, language, and regulation of fear and pleasure. Therefore, athetoid cerebral palsy affects an individual’s ability to control involuntary movements, fine motor control, muscle tone, and movement of extremities. In very severe athetoid cerebral palsy cases, significant involuntary movement and seizures are likely.
There are both natural causes of athetoid cerebral palsy and unnatural, or created, causes of athetoid cerebral palsy. The natural causes include genetics or abnormal development which was not caused by Oregon medical malpractice. Sometimes a natural birth can be more complicated or something could go wrong that is unavoidable. This is particularly true if a woman decides to do a natural birth with a mid-wife as opposed to at a hospital.
But there are some causes of athetoid cerebral palsy that should be reviewed by a Bend medical malpractice lawyer. These causes could be due to Oregon medical malpractice and may have been completely avoidable. This is because athetoid cerebral palsy is generally thought to have been caused by hypoxic injuries, or injuries due to an oxygen deprivation. This oxygen deprivation could be caused due to cord compression, a ruptured cord, excessive contractions, or being stuck in the birthing canal. These injuries causing a lack of oxygen are dangerous, even for just a minute, and can result in damage to the developing brain.
Thus, from an Oregon medical malpractice standpoint, athetoid cerebral palsy may be caused by the following negligence:
If your cherished child was diagnosed with Athetoid cerebral palsy and his or her labor and delivery was difficult or trying, call our Bend medical malpractice lawyer at Kuhlman Law, LLC for a FREE appointment to learn whether you may be the victim of Oregon medical malpractice. We handle cases throughout Oregon and Central Oregon, including Deschutes County, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, The Dalles, Hood River, Clackamas, Corvallis, Albany, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tigard, Salem, Portland, Hillsboro, Vancouver, Washington, Beaverton, Oregon City, Eugene, Coos Bay, Astoria, Newport, Pendleton, Tillamook, Milwaukie, Gresham, Hillsboro, Medford, and any other city, including Bend, Oregon where our main law office is located, please call Kuhlman Law, LLC by dialing (541) 385-1999 to learn what your rights to compensation you may have. You may also contact us using our easy and convenient “contact us” box at the bottom of our website. If we accept your case, we will conduct a thorough investigation to get you the answers you deserve, all for free. There is no risk, and you only pay us if we recover compensation for you.