When an infant suffers a birth injury, it is important that the child is treated as soon as possible to minimize the possibility of long-term or permanent symptoms. Occupational therapy is one way to treat several types of birth injuries that could result in various health disorders. If your child suffered a birth injury that required that they receive occupational therapy, you should consult with an experienced Miami medical malpractice attorney today.
Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA acknowledge how a serious birth injury can affect a child and their parents, and we are dedicated to helping you pursue compensation for your child’s injuries. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your claim, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676, or contact us online.
Birth Injuries that Occupational Therapy Can Treat
It is a misconception to believe that occupational therapy is solely reserved for adults that need rehabilitation to excel in their chosen occupations. Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that can be used to treat children and adults who suffer from injuries that cause physical, sensory, or cognitive conditions. Receiving occupational therapy can fine-tune motor skills for children that were severely injured due to a medical malpractice error.
It is important to understand the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy and how each is used to rehabilitate a person. As mentioned, occupational therapy is used to help people build their sensory, fine motor skills, and their cognitive abilities. Alternatively, physical therapy is a form of treatment that is used to help with endurance, pain management, range of motion, and other physically-related issues.
The following is a list of conditions that occupational therapy can be used to treat.
Birth Injuries
Birth injuries are injuries that typically occur because a doctor acted negligently while delivering a child. There are multiple ways that a doctor could commit medical malpractice during a delivery.
One way that a birth injury might occur is when a physician incorrectly uses a birthing instrument. The most common birthing instruments used to help with the delivery of a child are forceps and vacuum suctions. These tools are typically attached to the head of the baby in order to pull them from the womb. Unfortunately, some physicians may exert excessive force when using these tools, which could seriously injure the child.
There are also a number of conditions that could occur as a result of a birth injury. For example, if a child becomes entangled in their umbilical cord during a birth, they could suffer from hypoxia. Hypoxia is a loss of oxygen to the brain that can lead to a permanent brain injury. Other conditions that could be caused by a birth injury include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Erb’s palsy
- Facial paralysis
- Infections
This is not an exhaustive list. There are other birth injuries that could be caused by medical malpractice.
Developmental Delays
It can be difficult to determine whether your child is experiencing a developmental delay because the signs and symptoms may not appear until your child begins to grow. However, there are many cases where instances of medical malpractice could be linked to a developmental delay in a child.
One type of developmental delay is when a child shows signs of dragging one of their legs when attempting to walk. Dragging a leg could be a sign that a child has developed cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a condition that is often caused because a child experienced birth trauma that caused the brain damage.
Another issue that can be attributed to developmental abnormalities is when a child has difficulty with their reflexes or does not exhibit any form of reflexes. Sluggish or non-existent reflexes could make life extremely difficult for a child because they cannot properly react to events as they occur.
There are other health complications that may require a child to attend occupational therapy:
- Congenital disabilities
- Burns
- Learning disorders
- Juvenile arthritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Orthopedic injuries
- Surgical injuries
If you believe that a physician or the hospital that employs them was responsible for the injuries caused to your child, you should consider contacting an experienced lawyer to speak about your potential case. Our firm will listen to all the details of your case to determine how we can best help you.
Contact Our Trusted Miami Birth Injury Lawyer to Evaluate Your Case
If your child was the victim of medical malpractice and needed occupational therapy, contact an experienced Miami birth injury lawyer today. Injury lawyer Prosper Shaked possesses a wealth of experience handling a wide range of medical malpractice cases, and he is prepared to help you manage your birth injury claim. Our firm has worked with residents of Miami, West Palm Beach, and across South Florida and we are ready to work with you. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676.