How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound effects on the life of the child as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can help them live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, care and assistance.
Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. This could be due to a lack of prenatal care, issues during labor and birth or other events.
Causes
There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment may improve the abilities of a child. Doctors determine CP through the child’s movement, muscle coordination and tone. They can refer children to specialists such as pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists who will assist in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life.
Every person suffers from cerebral palsy in a different way. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the abilities of a child however, it can also be severe and cause impairments across every body part. The symptoms could include a Floppy head (floppy neck) and a stiff or uncontrolled muscle, difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it’s referred to as hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it’s known as diplegia. A severe CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition characterized by muscle spasticity that restricts the movement of a person and can lead to difficulties in speaking and eating.
The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is an often-repeated cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain can have serious consequences. A physician could be held accountable for malpractice if a medical error causes cerebral palsy or brain damage caused by oxygen deficiency. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or not being able to monitor and escalate an intense labor.
Symptoms
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they will most likely show a variety of physical signs. These may include tight joints or stiff joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other problems include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision issues.
The symptoms of Cerebral Palsy Attorneys palsy result from damage to the brain’s immature state. It is most commonly seen in the infant or early years of childhood. The delay in milestones such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling can be a sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.
There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the brain injury that causes CP. These include infections like toxoplasmosis and rubella during pregnancy; high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is the most common cause of CP.
The symptoms can range from mild to severe based on the type of. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled motions of the legs, arms and body. Other forms of CP could include ataxic cerebral palsy that has an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy where legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy are different, the majority of people suffering from the condition are required to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have problems with balance and coordination. The kind of problems they suffer from depend on the region of the brain that was injured as well as its severity.
Many people with CP require special physical therapy which helps them improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve discomfort and prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments can be included.
CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These can cause significant issues in mobility, which reduces life expectancy.
Other treatments could include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways of communicating and could include signing language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.
The use of medications can relax stiff or overactive muscles, reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain and seizures. These drugs can be taken orally or directly into the affected muscles or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.
Compensation
If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you may be compensated to pay for your child’s specialist care, equipment, and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impact that your child’s condition has caused on them, as well as any losses and expenses that you’ve incurred. This could include losing earnings because you have had to take a break from work to care for your child, home modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability-related care, depending on the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will create a «life care plan» that outlines their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they become adults. This will help you calculate a more accurate compensation sum. This is usually in the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which can be index to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
It is important to be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal case isn’t a quick buck. It’s a recognition that injustice has occurred due to medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of medical care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.