How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can enable them to lead an active and full life by providing access to treatment and equipment, as well as support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be due to an absence of care during pregnancy, problems during the birth process or other incidents.

Causes

There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can enhance the capabilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP based on a child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They may refer children to specialists such as neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists who can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for children.

Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild having a minimal impact on a child's ability function, or it can be extremely severe and cause physical impairments throughout the body. Symptoms can include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles and walking difficulties, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If a child only has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia; on both sides, it's diplegia. A severe CP could result in a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This can limit the person's mobility and make it difficult to speak and eating.

The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is the most common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be cautious when delivering babies because brain damage can result in serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the physician may be held liable for negligence. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or not being able to monitor and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy lawsuits palsy, they will most likely display a variety of physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles or joints, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and problems with balance and posture. Other problems can include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision issues.

Cerebral palsy is a condition caused due to damage to the young brain, most often in early childhood or infants. A delay in reaching milestones, such as standing up, crawling or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have trouble swallowing and may require a feeding device.

Several factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP that can be caused by infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is a major cause of CP, as is bleeding in the brain due to damaged or blocked blood vessels.

The symptoms may range from mild to extreme based on the type. The most commonly encountered type of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy law firm palsy, which is manifested by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow movement of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shaky motion) or paraplegic CP, where the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Although cerebral palsy symptoms vary, the majority of people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness and decrease in muscle control. They may also have issues with coordination and balance. The type of movement problem that they have depends on the area of the brain that was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy that allows them improve their muscle tone and mobility and stretch and work their muscles and joints. It can also relieve the discomfort and help prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments could be included.

CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These disorders can lead to significant mobility issues, which reduces life expectancy.

Speech and therapy for language may be used to help children who are not able to communicate effectively. This may help them learn new ways of communicating and could involve signing language, communication boards or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to relax stiff or overactive muscles, reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. The medications are administered by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid around 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 based on the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to any costs or losses that you've incurred. These could include loss of earnings due to having to stop work to take care of your child, house modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Based on the degree of the injury to your child the lawyer might recommend hiring an expert in disability care to draft a 'life care plan' that carefully lists all the needs of your child from the time of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will allow you to calculate an exact compensation amount. It usually takes the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments which can be index to keep pace with the rate of inflation.

You should know that the compensation for a legal case that is successful is not a quick cash payout. It is a recognition that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals did not fulfill their obligation to medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.