The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has a profound impact on the life of the child as well as that of their family. Compensation can allow them to live an active and healthy life by providing access to care, equipment and support.
Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be caused by the lack of care during pregnancy, problems during birth, or other occurrences.
Causes
There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment may improve a child's abilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the tone of a child's muscles and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists to assist in managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in a unique way. It can be mild, having a minimal impact on a child's ability to function, or severe and cause impairments throughout the body. The signs include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If a child's condition is 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. In severe cases, CP may lead to a locked in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This could limit the person's mobility and cause difficulty with speech and eating.
Birth complications are a common reason for CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be extra cautious when giving birth to babies since brain damage can have serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for malpractice. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate an arduous labor.
Symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy lawsuits palsy, he or is likely to have several physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles or joints, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues could include intellectual disability, cerebral palsy speech delays and hearing and vision issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to an immature brain. This is usually the case during the infancy years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling could be an indication of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have trouble swallowing and might need feeding tubes.
Many factors can contribute to a brain injury causing CP. These include infections like toxoplasmosis and rubella during pregnancy; high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is a major cerebral palsy cause for CP as is bleeding in the brain due to damaged or blocked blood vessels.
Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy, which is characterized by a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy where the legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
While the specific symptoms of cerebral 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 coordination and balance. The type of problems they have depend on the region of the brain which was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people with CP require special physical therapy that allows them to improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and strengthen their muscles and joints. It can also ease the pain and help prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments may be incorporated.
CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.
Speech and therapy for language are a way to help children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways of communicating. These could include communication board, or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to reduce the abnormal movement, reduce pain, and prevent seizures. These medications are ingested by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the mental and physical effects of your child's illness, as well as on any losses or expenses you may have incurred. This could include losing income due to having stop work to care for your child, house modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Depending on the extent of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend a specialist in disability care to create a "life care plan' that meticulously lists all the needs of your child from the time of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This can help determine an exact compensation amount. This typically will be lump sums and regular annual payments which can be adjusted to reflect inflation.
You must be aware that the compensation awarded for a legal case that is successful is not a windfall. It's an acknowledgement of unfairness that was caused by medical professionals failed to meet their duty of care in pregnancy, labour, and the delivery.
