A consensus statement by Australian and New Zealand doctors on the origins of cerebral palsy concluded there was no evidence that current obstetric practices could reduce the risk of cerebral palsy or that obstetric interventions would limit the prevalence or severity of the condition, the High Court heard yesterday.
The court is hearing an action against the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, and a consultant obstetrician, Dr Joseph Stanley, by a boy who has cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic.
Suing through his mother, Ms Avril Gallagher, of Moneystown, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, Blaise Gallagher (6) has alleged negligence during his birth at the hospital on April 27th, 1992. Both defendants have denied the claims. Blaise was born in the 29th week of pregnancy.
Mr Sean Ryan SC, for the hospital, yesterday read from an article entitled "The origins of cerebral palsy - a consensus statement", from the Australian and New Zealand Perinatal Societies. A consultant paediatrician, Dr Hugh Monaghan, who is a witness for the plaintiff, agreed that cerebral palsy (CP) was more common in pre-term than full-term babies. He agreed there was an 810 per cent chance of pre-term babies having CP.
Mr Ryan read from the article which asked: "Does CP ever originate in labour?", and included the statement: "It is our opinion that the lesions causing cerebral palsy are rarely initiated in labour and are rarely preventable." Dr Monaghan said other studies would state a certain incidence of CP in full-term babies would be due to labour factors. He was taking the symptoms set out on Blaise's hospital chart and saying the birth events gave him CP.
The hearing continues.