Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

Library Articles

Alternative Treatments Available for Cerebral Palsy
Parents of children with cerebral palsy should have hope that their children can try new alternative treatments to improve their quality of life. Healing Center On-line The Healing Center On-line, serves as a website and a clearinghouse for finding new alternative treatments for brain-injured children. According to the website, it is based on the belief… read more…
Birth Injuries from Medical Malpractice
The birth of a baby is one of the most joyous events in a parent’s life. Unfortunately, the event can be marked by feelings of helplessness, frustration, fear and despair if the baby has suffered a birth injury as he or she made their way into the world. Birth Injury Statistics Approximately 28,000 birth injuries… read more…
Birth Trauma in Massachusetts
Child injuries sometimes occur during the birth process, leading to lifelong disabilities for the child. Some of these birth injuries are unavoidable, but a number of them can be prevented. What is Birth Trauma? Birth trauma is defined as injuries to infants caused by mechanical forces, such as compression or traction, during the birth process…. read more…
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
One of the biggest concerns a parent has when expecting the birth of a child is whether or not the child will be healthy. Even if an expectant mother does everything possible to protect her unborn child, there are sometimes factors out of her control that can harm the baby. Cerebral palsy is a significant… read more…
Cerebral Palsy and Medical Errors
The Boston birth injury attorney Thomas Kiley has a special interest in cases involving Cerebral Palsy, a condition commonly caused by oxygen deprivation or head trauma during birth. What is Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy is a term that refers to a group of disorders typically related to an individual’s inability to control motor function. Types… read more…
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Doctors use the term cerebral palsy to refer to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination, but don't get worse over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn't caused by problems in the muscles or nerves…. read more…
Cerebral Palsy: Can It Be Prevented?
Boston child birth injury lawyer Thomas Kiley, concentrates on legal issues regarding cerebral palsy and traumatic birth injuries. Can Cerebral Palsy Be Prevented? New research conducted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) regarding birth injuries that lead to cerebral palsy indicates that some of these injuries can be prevented. History of… read more…
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
The birth of a child should be an exciting event, but for many parents, it brings anxiety and heartbreak. When doctors, nurses and hospitals fail to provide the necessary care for an expecting mother and unborn child, serious birth injuries can occur. There are many types of birth injuries, including Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy. What is… read more…
Infant Birth Defects: Studies Link Defects to Obese Mothers
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that birth defects affect about one in every 33 babies born in the United States each year. They are the leading cause of infant deaths, accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths. Babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and… read more…
Overview of Erb's Palsy
Injuries During Birth Improved techniques in the labor and delivery process have helped reduce the number of birth injuries that occur in the United States each year. However, obstetricians still occasionally make mistakes that ultimately cause severe injuries to newborns that last a lifetime. How Does Erb’s Palsy Occur? Erb's palsy, also known as Brachial… read more…
Study Shows Environmental Contamination Increase
Low Birth Weights Linked to Lowered Fertility and Environmental Contaminants Researchers in Canada have linked male low birth weights to an increase in lower fertility and an increase in environmental contaminants. According to UPI, researchers studied the male birth weights of 5,000,000 children born in Canada between 1981-2003 from records kept in the database of… read more…
What Are the Mental Health Effects on Children with Birth Injuries?
What types of mental health problems can children with birth injuries experience as they grow up? Some emotional disturbances, such as depression, anxiety and mania, can be brought on by the physical trauma or persistent deformation resulting from birth injuries. Some effects are shown right away, and others develop as the child matures. What are… read more…
What is a Brachial Plexus Injury?
A brachial plexus injury is an injury to the nerve network that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand. The nerve network originates in the brain and extends to these muscles and organs. Common Causes Birth trauma Motor vehicle accidents Sports injuries Bicycle accidents Treatment for brachial plexus injuries include: Occupational… read more…
What is Caput Succedaneum in Newborn Infants?
Caput Succedaneum is swelling of any portion of the scalp in a newborn. It is a common birth injury caused by pressure from the uterus or vaginal wall during a head-first (vertex) delivery. The condition usually resolves within the first week of life without treatment and does not usually cause complications. Jaundice may be an… read more…
What is Caput Succedaneum?
Caput Succedaneum is swelling of any portion of the scalp in a newborn. It is a common birth injury caused by pressure from the uterus or vaginal wall during a head-first (vertex) delivery. The condition usually resolves within the first week of life without treatment and does not usually cause complications. Jaundice may be an… read more…
What is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?
If your child has a disability, it may be caused by an error at the birth. If this is the case, attorney Thomas Kiley, an advocate for children, may be able to get compensation for the care of the child over the child’s lifetime. Some of these medical errors result in cerebral palsy. If your… read more…
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during and up to two years after birth. It involves the loss of movement or other nerve function. The disorder is non-progressive – it does not worsen or improve with time. There are approximately 550,000 people affected with cerebral palsy in the United… read more…
What is Hypoxia?
Hypoxia is a condition in which the brain or another part of the body is deprived of oxygen. Hypoxia occurs when breathing is obstructed or stopped, and when the flow of blood is inadequate in providing oxygen to cells. Hypoxia from High Altitude or Scooba Diving Many people experience mild “generalized hypoxia” when they are… read more…
What is the Legal Recourse in Case of Birth Injury?
A birth injury occurs when there is a trauma to the baby by the process of being born. The trauma usually is due to the pressure of the baby passing through the birth canal and can be caused by: prolonged labor, a "breech" or legs first birth, premature birth, vaccuum extraction, the use of forceps… read more…
What You Should Know About Pitocin
What is Pitocin? Before you allow your physician to order Pitocin to jumpstart your contractions, you need to be aware of some of the birth injury risks associated with this hormone. Pitocin is the brand name for King Pharmaceuticals' synthetic oxytocin. What is Oxytocin? Oxytocin is a hormone involved in the labor process. It is… read more…
Where Can Parents of Children With Cerebral Palsy Find Hope?
Parents of children who have suffered a cerebral palsy as a result of a birth injury often don’t receive much hope for their children’s recovery by the medical community. However, many parents refuse to give up, and look for positive life changes for their children. They look for opportunities to network with other parents and… read more…
You Can Recover from a Birth Brain Injury
Recent Brain Injury Studies Recent research funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS), shows that mice with brain injuries similar to those of premature babies can actually make new neurons to help repair brain damage. This study shows that actual recovery from a brain injury at birth can occur in the… read more…
Your Legal Options in the Event of Birth Injury
While a birth injury can affect a child for life, it also has a lasting impact on family members. Understanding Your Legal Rights If your child has suffered an injury, or defect related to the birth process or mother’s medication during pregnancy, you can seek legal as well as medical help. Understanding the range of… read more…