How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a fuller life, with access to medical equipment, care and support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be due to inadequate medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labor and birth or other events.

Causes

There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can improve the child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the muscle tone of a child and coordination, as well as movement. They can refer the child to specialists like neurologists, orthopedists for children and physiatrists to assist in managing symptoms and increase the quality of life for children.

Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild, with minimal impact on a child's ability to function, or severe and cause impairments throughout the body. The signs include neck that is floppy (floppy neck) as well as a muscles that are stiff or inflexible, 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. On both sides, it's called diplegia. A severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition with spasticity in muscles that restricts an individual's movements and leads to issues 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 because brain damage may have serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injury that causes 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 the intensity of labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he / will likely suffer from various physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and problems with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision problems.

Cerebral palsy symptoms are caused by damage to the immature brain, typically in the early years of childhood or in infants. A slowing down in reaching milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have trouble swallowing and might need a feeding tube.

Many factors can contribute to a brain injury causing CP. These include diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella during pregnancy; high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. A massive lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is the main cause of CP, as is bleeding in the brain that results from blood vessels that are damaged or blocked.

The symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the kind of. The most commonly encountered form of Cerebral Palsy Attorneys palsy is spastic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral Palsy (also known as athetoid choreoathetoid, or cerebral palsy attorneys choreoathetoid), is characterized by slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP can include ataxic palsy, characterized by an unstable motion or paraplegic cerebral palsy that affects legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

Although the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, a majority of sufferers of the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of issues they have depend on the region of the brain which was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people with CP require specific physical therapy in order to improve their mobility, tone of muscles, and stretch their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve discomfort and prevent contractures. It may include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.

Musculoskeletal conditions like patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, scoliosis are prevalent in CP. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems that reduce the lifespan.

Other treatments include speech and Cerebral palsy Attorneys language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways to communicate. This could include communication board, or voice synthesizers.

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

Compensation

If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you will be awarded compensation to you pay for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. The compensation will be based on the mental and physical effects of your child's illness as well as any losses or expenses you may have suffered. This could include losing earnings because you have had to stop work to take care of your child, home adaptations and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Your lawyer might hire an expert in disability-related care, depending on the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will write a "life care plan" that details their needs from the time of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This will allow you to calculate the most accurate compensation amount. It typically is a lump sum and regular annual payments, which can be indexed to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You should be aware that compensation from a successful legal claim isn't a windfall. It is a recognition that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals did not fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.