Cerebral Palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurologic disorders that permanently affect body movement or muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the brain that happens during pregnancy or very early in a baby’s life.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Some cases of cerebral palsy result from medical errors that cause a lack of oxygen, physical trauma, or dangerously low blood sugar levels — each of which can lead to permanent brain injury and cerebral palsy.

The forms of cerebral palsy most often linked to medical negligence are spastic quadriplegia and dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Spastic quadriplegia involves muscle stiffness and poor motor control in all four limbs, while other forms may affect just one side of the body (hemiplegia), the legs (paraplegia), or both arms and legs (diplegia).

Children with cerebral palsy often require lifelong support from a team of specialists, including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and physiotherapists. The cost of care can reach millions of dollars over a child’s lifetime. The emotional and financial impact is profound.

Common Mistakes

Common medical errors causing cerebral palsy include:

• Inadequate monitoring of the fetal heart rate

• Misreading or misinterpreting fetal heart rate tracings

• Failing to recognize key indicators of fetal distress, such as the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid

• Improper administration of oxytocin to induce or accelerate labour

• Not identifying or responding to uterine overstimulation (excessive contractions)

• Delaying a necessary cesarean section

• Failing to act quickly enough with assisted vaginal delivery

• Incorrect use of delivery instruments such as forceps or a vacuum extractor

• Allowing the baby to go without adequate oxygen for too long