Damage to the Motor Cortex and Cerebral Palsy

cerebral-palsy-lawyers

Damage to the Motor Cortex and Cerebral Palsy

While every infant is extremely vulnerable to harm while he or she is in the process of being born, there are certain parts of the body that absolutely need to be protected from damage. As many would expect, one of those parts of the body is the brain. While there are several different ways in which a person’s brain can be damaged during birth, one of the most common problems that arises is a lack of oxygen that can last anywhere from seconds to minutes. Any loss of oxygen to the brain can lead to irreparable damage.

One of the most common diagnoses that results from a loss of oxygen to the brain during birth is that of cerebral palsy. There are several different types of cerebral palsy and which type someone has could depend somewhat on the portion of the brain that’s been damaged. Below you will find a brief overview of one of those parts of the brain that’s known as the motor cortex and how it relates to cerebral palsy. Anyone whose child has suffered through this result because of medical negligence during birth needs to obtain the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers as soon as possible.

The Motor Cortex – A Brief Introduction

The motor cortex is a part of the cerebral cortex, and its main function is to help control muscle movements that occur throughout the body. The motor cortex is a very intricate part of the brain and it controls very specific parts of the body. Therefore, it’s possible for someone who has suffered an injury to one of the portions of the motor cortex to experience problems with one limb or one muscle group in the body and not any others.

When a child suffers damage to the motor cortex during birth because of the deprivation of oxygen, the cells in the motor cortex are permanently damaged and some are killed. As a result, a child will face a lifetime of difficulty with regards to these voluntary movements. This difficulty could include challenges with controlling muscle groups, periods of involuntary movements or even an inability to move these affected muscle groups.

Cerebral Palsy and Medical Negligence

Even though researchers have been studying cerebral palsy for years, there is no one known cause for this condition. Many cases of cerebral palsy are unavoidable as they involve genetics or some other cause. However, there are still too many diagnoses of cerebral palsy that were the result of negligence on the part of the medical professionals who were supposed to oversee the delivery process. This negligence leads to a lifetime of consequences.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe that it was the result of negligence by those who were supposed to protect your child from preventable harm, you need to seek the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of families for more than 40 years. Contact The Fitzgerald Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.

print