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 family. Compensation can help them lead a full and active life by providing access to treatment equipment and assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy arise from medical negligence. This could be due to the lack of prenatal care, issues during labor and birth or other occurrences.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can help improve a child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP based on the child's movements, muscle tone and coordination. They can refer children to specialists such as neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists who will assist in managing symptoms and improving life-quality.

Cerebral Palsy affects each person differently. It can be moderate and have only a slight impact on a child's abilities or severe and cause impairments across all body parts. Some of the symptoms include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head as well as stiff or uncontrolled muscles and walking difficulties, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy only affects one side of the child's body, it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is known as diplegia. The severity of CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity that limits an individual's movements and leads to difficulties with speech and eating.

Childbirth-related mistakes made by doctors are one of the main causes of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when delivering babies as brain damage could result in serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for malpractice. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely show a variety of physical symptoms. This could include stiff or tight joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's immature state. It is most commonly seen during the infancy years of childhood. A slowing down in reaching milestones such as sitting up, crawling, or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children with CP may also have difficulty swallowing and may require a feeding device.

Numerous factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP, including infections like rubella, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure in pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is the leading cause of CP.

Depending on the type of cerebral palsy attorneys palsy, the symptoms may vary from mild to severe. The most prevalent kind of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy. It is manifested by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral Palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid, choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and the body. Other types of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by an unstable motion or paraplegic cerebral aphasia where the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Although cerebral palsy symptoms vary, the majority sufferers of the condition experience stiffness and loss in muscle control. They may also have problems with balance and coordination. The type of problems they experience is dependent on the area of the brain that was injured as well as its extent of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy which helps them improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their muscles and joints. It can also ease the discomfort and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments might be included.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders like patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, which can reduce life expectancy.

Speech and therapy for language are a way to aid children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways of communicating and may include signing language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.

These medications are used to limit abnormal movements, decrease pain, and control seizures. These medications can be taken by mouth or directly into the affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid of your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The compensation will be based on the mental and physical consequences of your child's condition, as well as on any losses or cerebral palsy attorneys expenses that you might have incurred. These could include loss of earnings because you have had to stop work to care for your child, home adaptations and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.

Depending on the degree of the injury to your child Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability issues to write a "life care plan' that clearly details their needs starting from the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will allow you to calculate an exact compensation amount. It usually takes the form of lump sums as well as regular annual payments, which can be indexed to keep up with inflation.

You should be aware that compensation from a successful legal case isn't a quick buck. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.