How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has an impact on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and active life by providing access to treatment equipment and assistance.

Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. It can be caused by the lack of prenatal care, problems during labour and delivery or other occurrences.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can help improve a child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's muscle tone and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve quality of life.

Cerebral palsy affects every person differently. It can be moderate and have only a slight impact on a child's abilities however, it can also be severe and cause impairments to all areas of the body. The signs include an oversized (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled and walking difficulties, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only one side of a child's body, then it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is referred to as diplegia. Severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity, which restricts an individual's movements and leads to problems with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes during childbirth are the leading cause of CP. Nurses, doctors, and midwives must be cautious when giving birth to babies because damage to the brain may have serious consequences. A doctor could be held responsible for malpractice if a medical error results in cerebral palsy or brain damage caused by oxygen deficiency. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section, or failure to monitor and escalate a complicated labor.

Symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he / will likely suffer from a combination of physical symptoms. These could include stiff or tight joints or muscles, a limp, involuntary movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other problems include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and vision and hearing problems.

Cerebral Palsy symptoms are caused due to damage to the young brain, which is usually seen in early childhood or infants. A delay in reaching milestones, such as sitting up, crawling, or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have trouble swallowing and may require a feeding device.

Many factors can contribute to a brain injury that leads to CP. These include diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella in the womb high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a massive lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is a leading cause of CP.

Depending on the form of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. The most frequent kind of cerebral palsy attorney palsy is spastic cerebral palsy. It is defined by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy Attorneys palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled motions of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy, Cerebral Palsy Attorneys characterized by shakey movements and paraplegic cerebral parsy where the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy can differ, the majority of people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness and a loss in muscle control. They may also experience issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement issue that they experience is based on which brain area was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people with CP require specific physical therapy that assists them to improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also ease the pain and prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments could be considered.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

Speech and therapy for language may be used to aid children who are unable to communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways to communicate and could include signing language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.

They can relax stiff or overactive muscles and reduce abnormal movement. They also reduce pain and seizures. These medications are taken by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. This will be based on the psychological and physical impacts that your child's condition has had on them, as well as any expenses and losses that you've incurred. This could include the loss of earnings due to having to take a break from 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 in accordance with the degree of the injury to your child. The expert will develop a "life care plan" that details their needs starting at the time of diagnosis until they are adults. This will allow you to calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This typically is in the form of lump sums and regular annual payments, which can be adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation.

You must be aware that the compensation for a successful legal case is not a quick cash payout. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.