Portland Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Fact Checked

Call a Portland cerebral palsy lawyer to help you fight for justice and compensation for your child born with birth injuries and lifelong disabilities. The right lawyer has the expertise needed to give you the best chance of a good outcome and can also help with cases of discrimination.

Does Negligence Cause Cerebral Palsy?

Medical negligence before, during, and after birth can lead to lifelong consequences for victims. Birth injuries caused by medical malpractice can lead to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and significant disabilities.

Doctors are expected to follow reasonable standards of care. For instance, if a doctor fails to schedule an emergency C-section when necessary, such as identifying fetal distress, that would not be considered a reasonable and expected standard of care.

Negligent medical mistakes can lead to infant brain damage, cerebral palsy, and many other medical issues.

Portland Lawyers Win $13 Million for Boy with Cerebral Palsy

A case of devastating negligence occurred in a Portland-area hospital in 2005. Three physicians were accused of failing to provide the standards of care required of them when a woman went through prolonged labor.

In 2015, parents sued Silverton Hospital after claiming physicians failed to schedule and carry out a C-section in time. The baby’s mother, Amy, said she chose the hospital, around an hour from Portland, because it was homey.

Years before the cerebral palsy lawsuit, in December 2007, Amy made her way to the hospital. After she was admitted, physicians administered labor-inducing drugs, as she was two weeks past her due date.

Yet, for around 11 hours, nothing happened, and the medical staff continued administering the medication.

At some point, the medical staff asked Amy to start pushing, but the little boy’s head wasn’t appropriately positioned in the mom’s cervix. This caused the baby’s heart rate to drop for at least six minutes.

Ultimately, the physician ordered an emergency C-section, but the baby was already in distress by that time.

He had fecal matter in his lungs and nostrils when he was born. Unable to breathe, the physician placed an oxygen bag and face mask on the baby before attempting to clear his airways.

Further, one of the physicians took out the baby’s endotracheal tube for around 45 minutes, prompting an emergency call to the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital’s mobile team (OSHU).

The OSHU team ultimately stabilized the infant and then transported him to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Due to the medical mistakes made at Silverton Hospital, 20 percent of the baby’s frontal lobe had been damaged. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Through an experienced Portland cerebral palsy attorney, the family was able to negotiate with the hospital after the lawyer uncovered the many mistakes the Silverton physicians made.

Ultimately, the family received $13 million, which will help cover the costs of his lifelong treatment and care.[1]

How Can a Portland Cerebral Palsy Attorney Help My Child?

There are numerous ways medical negligence leads to birth injuries:

• Failure to detect, diagnose, and treat maternal and fetal infections.
• Failure to detect, diagnose, and treat umbilical cord problems or placenta issues
• Improper use of birth-assisting tools
• Administering the wrong type of medication
• Failure to recognize fetal distress in time
• Mishandling the baby

If you think your child’s disorder resulted from medical negligence, an experienced Portland cerebral palsy lawyer can assist you. They can help you file a cerebral palsy lawsuit and recover damages to help pay for your child’s care.

No parent should have to go through the experience of medical negligence, and they certainly shouldn’t be expected to pay the steep medical expenses alone when someone else causes their child’s injuries.

Treatment and Support in Portland

It’s important to take legal action on behalf of your child, but even more crucial is getting good medical care and support. Early and specialized treatment will help your child get the best outcome.

Shriners Hospital for Children- Portland 

Shriners Children’s Hospital in Portland offers specialty pediatric care, including orthopedics, rehabilitation and therapy, and orthotics and prosthetic services.[2]

3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd.

Portland, OR 97239

Phone: 971-228-2936

Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Doernbecher Children’s Hospital has several locations, including in Portland. The specialists at Doernbecher treat a variety of conditions, including cerebral palsy, through the Pediatric Spine Clinic.[3]

700 S.W. Campus Drive

Portland, OR 97239

Phone: 503-346-0640

United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon

UCP of Oregon offers several services for disabled people and their families: financial advice and guidance, supported employment, supported living, family support, and skills training and community inclusion for children.[4]

305 NE 102nd Ave. Ste. 100

Portland, OR 97220

Phone: 503-777-4166