How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can help them live an active and fulfilling life by providing access to care and equipment, as well as assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy law firms palsy arise from medical negligence. This could be caused by a lack of medical attention during pregnancy, issues during birth or other events.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however, early diagnosis and treatment can improve the child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing a child's muscle tone and coordination, as well as movement. They may refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in a unique way. It can be mild, with no impact on a child's ability to function, or severe and cause impairments throughout the body. The symptoms can include a floppy head (floppy neck), muscles that are stiff and uncontrolled, difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If a child only has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, this is known as hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's called diplegia. The severity of CP may lead to locked in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This could limit a person's movement and cause difficulty with speech and eating.

Childbirth-related mistakes made by doctors are the most common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses should be cautious when delivering babies as damage to the brain could result in serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy, the physician could be held responsible for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy attorney palsy, he / is likely to have various physical symptoms. The symptoms can include stiff or tight muscles as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, and problems with balance and posture. Other issues include intellectual disabilities, speech delays as well as hearing and vision problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's immature state. It is most commonly seen during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling may be an indication of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding tube.

A variety of factors can cause a brain injury that leads to CP. This includes infections like toxoplasmosis and rubella during pregnancy; 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 type of cerebral palsy, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow flailing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy, which has an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy, in which legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, a majority of sufferers of the condition have to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The kind of problems they experience is dependent on the part of the brain that was injured as well as the degree of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy that allows them to improve their mobility and muscle tone as well as stretch and exercise their muscles and joints. It can also ease the pain and help prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments may be included.

Musculoskeletal conditions like patella alta, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and cervical stenosis are common in CP. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

Speech and therapy for language may be used to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways to communicate and may include sign language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.

These medicines can be used to stop abnormal movements, ease the pain, and manage seizures. These medications can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid of your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the mental and physical consequences of your child's condition and any losses or expenses you may have suffered. These could include loss of earnings because you have had to leave work in order to take care of your child, home adaptations and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.

The lawyer you hire may employ an specialist in disability care, depending on the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will create a "life care plan" that details their needs from the moment they are diagnosed until they become adults. This will allow you to calculate an exact amount of compensation. This is usually in the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments which may be indexed to keep up with inflation.

You should know that the amount of compensation you receive for a successful legal matter is not a monetary windfall. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.