| November 2008 »
October 27, 2008

Birth Complications and Hypoxia Associated with Increased Risk of Schizophrenia

A new study published in the November 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry concludes that complications during pregnancy and birth hypoxia, a shortage of oxygen to the baby’s brain which can result from delays in delivery, are associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia. The study specifically finds that people who later develop schizophrenia are more likely to have decreased levels of neuroprotective protein – brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an indicator of fetal distress resulting from birth hypoxia. The study’s authors are hopeful that their findings, which will require further testing, may someday lead to preventative intervention and at-birth identification of individuals at high-risk of developing the condition.

For the full story, click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus

October 24, 2008

Jury Awards $11.4 Million for Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury

A Wisconsin jury awarded $11.4 million to the parents of a child born with Cerebral Palsy, and found a nurse and midwife at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center negligent in the child’s delivery, causing the brain damage. The lawsuit alleged that the baby was deprived of oxygen due to a delay in his delivery and that the mother was administered the drug Pitocin in frequent and increased dosages without a physician’s order, in violation of hospital policy, which caused additional stress to the fetus and an abnormal contraction pattern.

The child suffers from Cerebral Palsy and other permanent personal injuries. He is not expected to ever walk or talk and requires a feeding tube. The parents state that, while the jury award cannot give their child a normal life, it will help them to provide the therapy, treatment, and accommodations that their son will need throughout his life.
For the full story, click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: Cerebral Palsy, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus, Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Verdicts and Settlements

October 20, 2008

Botox Investigated for Deaths of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Health Canada, the agency charged with protecting and maintaining Canada’s public health, is investigating 5 deaths associated with the use of Botox to treat neck and muscle spasms. The investigation includes two children with Cerebral Palsy who died after receiving the drug. Eight other serious adverse reactions are also being investigated. The agency indicates that a likely cause of these reactions is the spread of the drug’s botulinim toxin to other parts of the patient’s body following injection.

Botulinum toxin type A, a nerve toxin contained (in minute quantities) in Botox, is one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances and it is the most toxic protein in the world. Exposure to the toxin in significant quantities can cause Botulism, which results in severe muscle paralysis. The drug commonly known for its cosmetic use is also widely prescribed for medical purposes. Many children with Cerebral Palsy receive Botox injections to treat the symptoms associated with the disorder. While some researchers laud the drug’s effectiveness in children with Cerebral Palsy, claiming that it enhances the benefits gained from occupational therapy, others warn that any benefits may be too subtle for the patient’s family to notice with any significance.

Although the FDA has not approved Botox for the treatment of Cerebral Palsy or other spastic disorders, many physicians in the U.S. continue to prescribe the drug “off-label.” In February, 2008, the FDA issued a public health warning announcing that Botox had "been linked in some cases to adverse reactions, including respiratory failure and death, following treatment of a variety of conditions using a wide range of doses," and it indicated that most of the severe side effects were reported among children with cerebral palsy.

In July, 2008, a California lawsuit was filed against Alergan, Inc., the manufacturer of Botox, on behalf of people who experienced adverse reactions to the drug, including serious injuries and death. The suit alleges that the Alergan violated federal regulations by marketing the drug for unapproved, or “off-label” use.

For the full story, click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: Cerebral Palsy

October 13, 2008

Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week

Next week, October 19-26, will be the 9th annual Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week. This event was created by the United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. with the goal of increasing general awareness of brachial plexus injuries.

A brachial plexus injury occurs when the network of spinal nerves which controls the muscles of the fingers, hand, arm, and shoulder, called the brachial plexus, is damaged. These nerves originate at the back of the neck and extend through the axilla (armpit) and into the arm, where they form 3 trunks in the upper shoulder. Erb’s Palsy refers to an injury to the upper trunk while a lower trunk injury is called Klumpke's Palsy.

A brachial plexus injury can result in full or partial paralysis of one or both arms and can be permanent if the nerves do not completely heal. In less severe instances, the nerve damage may cause weakness or a loss of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist, resulting in the impaired ability to grasp, extend, or reach, or a lack of feeling or sensation in the arm or hand. Physical appearance can also be affected.

Most brachial plexus injuries occur during an emergency birth condition called shoulder dystocia in which the baby’s shoulder becomes wedged behind the mother’s pubic bone while in delivery. There are several techniques or maneuvers to free the baby’s shoulder and complete the delivery safely but if the person performing the delivery is careless or applies excessive force to the baby’s head or neck, the brachial nerves can become stretched or torn.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: Brachial Plexus, Current Issues, Erb's Palsy, Shoulder Dystocia

October 10, 2008

Jury Awards $4.25 Million in Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawsuit

A jury found a hospital liable for medical malpractice and awarded $4.25 million to the family of a girl who, after a traumatic birth, was born with Cerebral Palsy and brain damage. The baby’s heart rate began to drop while the mother was lying in a hospital bed but the doctor had gone home for dinner. By the time another doctor arrived and performed an emergency Cesarean Section, the baby had been deprived of oxygen for 20 minutes.

The jury found that the hospital ignored signs of fetal distress, failed to notify a doctor in time to perform a timely emergency C-Section, and that this delay caused the child’s injuries.

The jury awarded compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost future earnings and pain and suffering.

For the full story, click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: C-Section Delay, Cerebral Palsy, Fetus/Fetal Asphyxia, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), Lack of Oxygen to Fetus, Verdicts and Settlements

October 3, 2008

Study Finds that Giving Antibiotics to Pregnant Women May Increase Babies’ Risk of Cerebral Palsy

A UK study found that prescribing antibiotics to women at risk of giving premature birth could increase the threat of their babies developing functional impairments and Cerebral Palsy. The study was aimed at testing whether the antibiotics erythromycin and co-amoxiclav would delay premature birth but a follow-up study instead revealed that the children of the women receiving the drugs had developed impairments at an increased rate. Specifically, children of women given erythromycin were found to be 18% more likely to suffer functional impairment and when women were prescribed both antibiotics their children’s risk of Cerebral Palsy nearly tripled, with 4.4% of their babies developing the impairment compared to 1.6% for mothers who were not prescribed the antibiotics.

Experts caution, however, that women with signs of infection should not feel reluctant to receive antibiotics because infections can represent serious risks and they point out that, in the study, the drugs were issued to women with no signs of infection.

To read the full story, click here.

Posted by Levin & Perconti | | Email This Post

Posted In: Cerebral Palsy

| November 2008 »

Contact Us

Disclaimer

The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

LexisNexis Litigation Resource Center 2011 Top 50 Tort Blogs

Recent Entries

Legal Blogs