The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound implications on the child's life and the lives of their families. Compensation can allow them to live a fuller life, with access to medical equipment, cerebral palsy care and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral 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, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve a child's abilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They might refer a child to specialists like neurologists, orthopedists for children and physiatrists who can assist in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for children.
Every person suffers from cerebral palsy lawyers palsy in different ways. It can be moderate and have only a slight impact on a child's abilities or cerebral palsy severe and cause impairments in every body part. The symptoms could include a Floppy head (floppy neck), muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled and walking difficulties, or problems with speech and other functions. If a child only has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's referred to as hemiplegia. On both sides, it's called diplegia. In severe cases, CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition that causes muscle spasticity, which restricts an individual's movements and leads to difficulties in speaking and eating.
Birth complications are a frequent reason for CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be careful when delivering the baby as damage to the brain may cause serious harm. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the physician may be held liable for malpractice. This includes negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section, or the failure to monitor and escalate a complex labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he / will likely suffer from several physical symptoms. This could include tight joints or stiff joints or muscles, a limp, involuntary movement and problems with balance and posture. Other problems can include intellectual disability, speech delays and vision and hearing issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain of an infant. It is most commonly seen in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in milestones such as rolling over, sitting, walking, or crawling can be an indication of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have trouble swallowing and may require a feeding device.
Many factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP and other conditions, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during delivery or labor is the main cause of CP.
Based on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow writhing movements of the arms, legs and the body. Other forms of CP can include ataxic palsy, characterized by a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy in which the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy differ, the majority of people suffering from the condition are required to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of movement problems they experience will depend on the part of the brain which was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP need specialized physical therapy to increase their muscle tone, mobility and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also help relieve tension and prevent contracture. It could involve exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.
Musculoskeletal issues like hip dysplasia, patella alta, cervical stenosis, and scoliosis are common in CP. These can cause major problems in mobility, reducing life expectancy.
Speech and therapy for language may be used to help children who are not able to communicate effectively. This may help children learn new ways to communicate and may include sign language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to reduce the abnormal movement, reduce seizures, and ease pain. 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 to pay for special care, equipment and treatment. This will be based on the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any costs or losses that you've incurred. This could include the loss of earnings as you had stop work to take care of your child, house modifications and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.
Depending on the severity of your child's injuries the lawyer may recommend an expert in disability services to draft a 'life care plan' that carefully defines their needs from the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will help you calculate the most accurate compensation amount. It is typically in the form of a lump sum and regular annual payments, which may be indexed to keep pace with inflation.
It is important to be aware that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals did not fulfill their duty of medical care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.
