How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has a profound impact on the life of the child as well as the lives of their parents. Compensation can help them live a fuller life, with access to equipment, treatment and assistance.

Many cases of Cerebral Palsy (Https://Vimeo.Com) arise from medical negligence. This can be due to a lack of care during pregnancy, problems during delivery or other incidents.

Causes

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

Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild with minimal impact on a child's ability to function, Cerebral Palsy or severe and result in impairments throughout the body. The symptoms could include a Floppy head (floppy neck) stiff or uncontrolled muscle that is difficult to walk or has difficulties with speech and other functions. If a child only has marion cerebral palsy attorney palsy on one side of the body, it's referred to as hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's diplegia. The severity of CP could cause a locked in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. This can restrict the person's mobility and create difficulties with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes during childbirth are the leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be extra cautious when delivering the baby as damage to the brain may cause serious harm. If a medical mistake causes 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 in a hurry or failing to monitor and escalate an intense labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he or is likely to have an array of physical symptoms. These may include tight or stiff joints or muscles, a limp, involuntary movement and problems with balance and posture. Other issues include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and vision and hearing issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. It usually occurs during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as 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 a feeding tube.

A variety of factors can trigger the development of a brain injury that leads to CP or CP-related conditions, including infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is the main cause of CP as is bleeding in the brain caused by damaged or blocked blood vessels.

Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled motions of the legs, arms and body. Other types of CP can include ataxic palsy, which has a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy that affects legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy differ, 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 problems they suffer from depend on the part of the brain that was injured as well as the extent of the injury.

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

Musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and cervical stenosis are prevalent in CP. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues and reduce life expectancy.

Other treatments include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways of communicating. These could include communication board or voice synthesizers.

They can relax stiff or overactive muscles, reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. These medications are taken by mouth or injected into the 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 medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has had on them, in addition to any losses and expenses you've had to pay. This could include the loss of income due to you having to stop working to care for your children, home modifications and transportation expenses.

The lawyer you hire may employ an expert in disability-related care, depending on the degree of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" that outlines their needs starting at the time of diagnosis until they are adults. This will allow you to calculate an exact amount of compensation. This typically is in the form of lump sums and regular annual payments, which can be adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.

It is important to be aware that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's an acknowledgement of the injustice that occurred due to the fact that medical professionals did not meet their duty of care in pregnancy, labour, and birth.