Originally published February 13 2006
Study reveals a virus may trigger cerebral palsy in newborns
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In the British Medical Journal, the South Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group has published a study that could potentially revise our understanding of the disorder, which has been attributed to a lack of oxygen caused by improper delivery and resulted in large medical negligence cases, though this study demonstrates that a virus in the womb could be the cause of cerebral palsy.
DOCTORS sued for delivering babies with cerebral palsy may have been wrongly accused of medical negligence, with new research showing a virus in the womb, rather than oxygen starvation, is to blame in most cases.
The findings raise the prospect of a vaccination to cut the rate of cerebral palsy but also have the potential to slash the estimated $100million a year that is paid out in medical negligence settlements.
About 600 Australian babies are born each year with the debilitating brain and motor disorder, which has traditionally been attributed to birth asphyxia - a lack of oxygen caused by improper delivery.
However, a study of 443 Australian children with cerebral palsy and 883 babies without the condition has found that exposure to viruses before and directly after birth can trigger the disorder, which can affect movement, sight, hearing, perception and learning.
Alastair Maclennan, leader of the South Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group, which published the work in the British Medical Journal, said the findings proved that cases of cerebral palsy should not be dealt with by courts.
"It's always possible to find hired-gun expert witnesses, usually retired, who say that if they'd delivered the baby a half-hour earlier, there would be no cerebral palsy."
NSW woman Calandre Simpson was awarded the payout after she sued obstetrician Robert Diamond for a botched forceps delivery.
Months later, her medical indemnity provider, United Medical Protection, went into provisional liquidation.
Professor Maclennan said the fear of lawsuits was driving obstetricians out of the field and forcing maternity ward closures.
Australian Medical Association medical indemnity chairman Andrew Pesce said: "Hopefully, as more and more evidence like this stacks up, fewer doctors will be successfully sued for negligence in cerebral palsy cases."
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