How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound effects on the life of the child and that of their family. Compensation can allow them to live an active and fulfilling life by allowing access to care, equipment and assistance.
Medical negligence is usually the reason for
cerebral palsy attorneys palsy. This can be caused by inadequate medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labor and delivery, or other occurrences.
Causes
There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment may improve the capabilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at the muscle tone of a child and coordination, as well as movement. They can refer the child to specialists such as neurologists, orthopedists for children and physiatrists who will assist in managing symptoms and increase life-quality.
Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on the abilities of a child but it can also be severe and cause impairments across every body part. Symptoms can include a floppy (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled that are difficult to walk, or having difficulty speaking and other functions. If cerebral palsy is only affecting the child's body, it is known as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is known as diplegia. The severity of CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by spasticity in muscles that restricts an individual's movements and leads to issues with speech and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain may cause serious harm. If a medical error causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause
cerebral palsy law firm palsy, the physician could be held responsible for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or not being able to monitor and escalate the intensity of the labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from
cerebral Palsy attorneys palsy, he or will likely suffer from various physical symptoms. These symptoms may include stiff or tight muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and problems with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision problems.
Cerebral palsy is a condition caused due to damage to the young brain, most often in the early years of childhood or in infants. The delay in milestones such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling may be a sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding tube.
Numerous factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP and other conditions, such as rubella, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A massive lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during birth or labor is the main cause of CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, the symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid or choreoathetoid), is known as a the uncontrolled writhing and swaying of the arms, legs and the body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy, characterized by a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy, in which legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
Although the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most people with the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of movement problem that they face is determined by the brain region that was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people with CP require specialized physical therapy that helps them improve their muscle tone and mobility and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve discomfort and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments may be incorporated.
Musculoskeletal issues like hip dysplasia, patella alta, scoliosis, and cervical stenosis are prevalent in CP. These can cause major issues in mobility, which reduces life expectancy.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways of communicating and may include communication board or voice synthesizers.
These medicines are used to limit abnormal movements, decrease seizures, and ease pain. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord.
Compensation
If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you can receive compensation to you pay for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be based on the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any expenses and losses you've had to pay. This could include loss of earnings due to the fact that you have to stop working to care for your children, home adaptations and transport costs.
Depending on the degree of the injury to your child the lawyer might recommend hiring an expert in disability care to write a "life care plan' that carefully defines their needs beginning with the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will allow you to calculate a more accurate amount of compensation. It typically takes the form of a lump sum and regular annual payments, which can be adjusted to keep up with inflation.
It is important to know that the compensation awarded for a successful legal matter is not a monetary windfall. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals did not fulfill their duty of taking care during labour, pregnancy and delivery.