The 10 Most Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can help them live a full life with access to equipment, treatment and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. It can be caused by a lack of prenatal care, issues during labour and delivery or other occurrences.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors determine CP through a child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve quality of life.
Every person suffers from cerebral palsy in a unique way. It can be mild with no impact on a child's ability to function, or severe and result in impairments throughout the body. It can be characterized by the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled, difficulty walking, or having trouble 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. When it happens on both sides, it's called diplegia. In severe cases, CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. This could limit the person's mobility and result in difficulty speaking and eating.
Childbirth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be cautious when delivering the baby as damage to the brain can cause serious harm. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy the physician could be held accountable for malpractice. This includes negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or failure to control and escalate a complicated labor.
Symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he or she will likely have an array of physical symptoms. This could include stiff or tight joints, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues can include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to the brain's maturation. This occurs most often in the early years of childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.
Many factors can contribute to a brain injury causing CP. These include infections like toxoplasmosis and 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 due to blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
Depending on the type of cerebral palsy law firms palsy, the symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled movement of the legs, arms and body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy, which has an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy in which legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
While the symptoms specific to 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 be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they suffer from is dependent on which brain area was injured and the degree of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP require specific physical therapy that assists them improve their mobility and muscle tone as well as stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve discomfort and help prevent contractures. Braces, exercises, or other treatments might be incorporated.
Musculoskeletal disorders like patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, and scoliosis are prevalent in CP. These can cause significant issues in mobility, which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.
Speech and therapy for language are a way to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways to communicate. This may include signing language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.
These medications are used to limit abnormal movements, ease pain, and control seizures. These medications are taken by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the fluid that surrounds 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 psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to the costs and losses you have incurred. This could include losing earnings due to having stop work to care for your child, house modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability, depending on the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will write a "life care plan" that will outline their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they turn adults. This will help you calculate the most accurate compensation amount. This usually takes the form of a lump sum and regular annual payments, that can be adjusted to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
You must be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals didn't fulfill their obligation to care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.
