How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and active life by providing access to care, equipment and support.
Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. It can be caused by an absence of prenatal care, problems during labour and delivery or other events.
Causes
There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment may improve the capabilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the tone of a child's muscles and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's ability to perform, or it can be severe and cause impairments throughout the body. The signs include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head, stiff or uncontrolled muscles and walking difficulties, or having difficulty speaking and other functions. If a child's condition is
Cerebral palsy attorneys palsy on one side of the body, this is known as hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's diplegia. A severe CP could cause a locked in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This may limit the person's mobility and make it difficult to speak and eating.
Medical mistakes during childbirth are the most common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be extra cautious when giving birth to babies as brain damage could cause serious harm. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for malpractice. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section, or failing to supervise and escalate the complexity of labor.
Symptoms
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he or will likely suffer from an array of physical symptoms. These may include stiff or tight joints,
Cerebral Palsy Attorneys a limp, uncontrolled movements, and
Cerebral palsy attorneys issues with balance and posture. Other issues could include speech delays, intellectual disability and hearing and vision problems.
Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered by damage to the developing brain, which is usually seen during infancy or early childhood. A delay in milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, walking, or crawling may be an indication of CP. Children suffering from CP might also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.
Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe deficiency of oxygen) during labor or birth is a leading cause of CP.
Based on the kind of
cerebral palsy attorneys palsy, the symptoms can vary from mild to severe. The most common kind of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled writhing movements of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shakey movement) or paraplegic CP in which the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most people with the condition have to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of movement problems they experience is dependent on the area of the brain that was injured as well as its degree of the injury.
Many people with CP need specialized physical therapy to increase their muscle tone, mobility, and stretch their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve tension and prevent contractures. It could involve exercises, braces that are specially designed, or other treatments.
Musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, scoliosis are prevalent in CP. These conditions can cause major mobility problems and reduce life expectancy.
Other treatments could include speech and language therapy for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways to communicate. This may include sign language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.
Medications can be used to relax stiff or overactive muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, reduce pain and seizures. The medications are administered by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.
Compensation
If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you could receive compensation to help cover the cost of medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based upon the physical and mental consequences of your child's condition as well as any losses or expenses you might have incurred. This could include losing earnings due to having stop work to take care of your child, home adaptations and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.
Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability, depending on the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will write an "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child from the moment of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This will help you determine an exact amount of compensation. It typically will be an amount in lump sum and annual payments that are adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.
It is important to be aware that compensation from a successful legal claim isn't a windfall. It's a way of acknowledging an the injustice that occurred due to the fact that the medical professional failed to perform their duty of care during labour, pregnancy and birth.