Was Your Child Injured During Birth?

Let Our Juneau and Anchorage Medical Malpractice Attorneys Help

At Dillon & Findley, P.C., we have been representing Alaska patients injured by medical malpractice since 1992. These patients include children who sustained birth injuries, including cerebral palsy, due to mistakes made during delivery. Each Anchorage and Juneau medical malpractice lawyer at our firm is available to answer your questions about medical malpractice or birth injuries.

A birth injury results from complications during labor or delivery and may be mild or severe. Oxygen deprivation or mechanical trauma, problems that may be the result of a healthcare provider’s negligence or mistake, can cause birth injuries.

Cerebral palsy, a common birth injury, is a condition in which an infant’s brain and central nervous system are damaged. Each year, over eight thousand children in Alaska are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy may be caused by pregnancy difficulties, birth injuries, or post-birth complications. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, and the average cost of care for a person with the condition can be close to a million dollars. Thus, the cost of lifetime care for a child with cerebral palsy can be financially burdensome for many families.

Medical personnel can make several errors that can cause cerebral palsy during the delivery of a baby. Complications that demand the use of forceps or vacuum extraction or result in a caesarean delivery can lead the baby to receive an inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain. Indicators that the baby’s brain received inadequate oxygen during delivery include the fact that the baby had seizures or needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately following birth.

To bring a claim of medical malpractice for cerebral palsy or other birth injury, you generally must file a complaint within two years of the date of your child’s birth injury. Alaska law requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence that a healthcare provider fell below the standard of care in delivering the baby and that this breach of standard of care caused the birth injury or cerebral palsy.

If your child has cerebral palsy and you suspect medical malpractice is the cause, our attorneys can help you determine whether you have a solid claim. Each Juneau and Anchorage injury attorney at Dillon & Findley, P.C. has extensive experience representing clients in medical malpractice cases, including those based on surgical errors and failure to diagnose. Contact our Alaska injury law firm today for a thorough and thoughtful review of your potential case.