The 10 Most Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have an enormous impact on the child's life as well as that of their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and active life by providing access to treatment, equipment and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. This can be caused by inadequate prenatal care, issues during labor and birth or other occurrences.
Causes
There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can help improve the child's capabilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by looking at the muscle tone of a child and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's abilities but it can also be severe and cause impairments across every body part. The signs can include a head that is floppy (floppy neck) as well as a muscles that are stiff and uncontrolled, cerebral Palsy difficulty walking or having difficulties with speech and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's known as hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's diplegia. The severity of CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that causes muscle spasticity, which restricts an individual's movements and leads to issues with speech and eating.
Medical mistakes during childbirth are the leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be cautious when delivering babies as damage to the brain could result in serious consequences. If a medical mistake causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the physician may be held liable for malpractice. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or the failure to monitor and escalate a complex labor.
Symptoms
If your child has cerebral palsy, he / is likely to have several physical symptoms. This could include stiff or tight joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movement and problems with balance and posture. Other issues could include intellectual disability, speech delays and hearing and vision issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy result from damage to the brain of an infant. It is most commonly seen during the infancy years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones such as sitting up, crawling, or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children with CP may also have difficulties swallowing, and may need a feeding device.
There are a variety of factors that can contribute to a brain injury that leads to CP. These include infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb, 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 bleeding in the brain that results from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
Depending on the form of cerebral palsy, symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs and body. Other types of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy that has a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy that affects the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy vary, most sufferers of the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they face is determined by which brain area was injured and the degree of the injury.
Many people with CP need special physical therapy to improve their muscle tone, mobility and stretch their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve pain and help prevent contractures. It could include exercises, braces that are specially designed, or other treatments.
CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems, such as hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues that reduce the lifespan.
Speech and therapy for language may be used to help children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways of communicating and could include sign language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.
The use of medications can relax overactive or stiff muscles to reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. The compensation will be based on the physical and mental effects of your child's condition, as well as on any expenses or losses you might have incurred. This could include loss of earnings due to having to quit work to take care of your children, home adaptations and transportation expenses.
Based on the severity of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend an expert in disability issues to create a "life care plan' that clearly lists all the needs of your child from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This can help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. This usually is lump sums and regular annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.
It is important to know that the compensation resulting from a successful legal case isn't a quick buck. It is a recognition that injustice has occurred due to medical professionals didn't fulfill their obligation to medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.
