How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can help them live a full and fulfilling life, with access to the equipment, care and support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This could be caused by the lack of care during pregnancy, or problems during birth, or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment may improve the capabilities of a child. Doctors determine CP in relation to the child's movements, muscle coordination and tone. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the abilities of a child but it can also be severe and cause impairments in all areas of the body. The signs can include a Floppy head (floppy neck) and a stiff or uncontrolled muscle and walking difficulties, or problems with speech and other functions. If a child's condition is cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's referred to as hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's known as diplegia. A severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity, which restricts the person's movement and can lead to issues with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes in childbirth are an often-repeated reason for CP. Nurses, midwives, and doctors should be extra cautious when delivering babies as damage to the brain could result in serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain damage that leads to georgetown Cerebral palsy law firm palsy, the doctor could be held responsible for malpractice. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or not being able to monitor and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child has cerebral palsy, he / will likely suffer from an array of physical symptoms. These may include tight joints or stiff joints, a limp, uncontrolled movement and issues with balance and posture. Other problems include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to the brain of an infant. It is most commonly seen in the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, or walking can be a sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding tube.

Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP and other conditions, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major cause of CP and bleeding in the brain caused by blood vessels that are damaged or blocked.

Symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type. The most prevalent type of daytona beach cerebral palsy law firm palsy is spastic cerebral paralysis, which is characterised by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled movement of the legs, arms and the body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP which affects the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Although cerebral palsy symptoms differ, most people suffering from the condition experience stiffness, as well as a decrease in muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of issues they suffer from depend on the area of the brain which was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people with CP need special physical therapy that can improve their mobility, muscle tone and stretch their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve pain and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments could be considered.

Musculoskeletal conditions like patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, and scoliosis are common in CP. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems, which reduces life expectancy.

Speech and therapy for language may be used to help children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways to communicate. This could include sign language, communication board or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to decrease abnormal movements, decrease seizures, and ease pain. These medications are taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you will receive compensation to help cover the cost of medical attention, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the physical and mental impact of your child's condition as well as any expenses or losses you may have incurred. These could include loss of earnings because you have had stop work to take care of your child, home adaptions and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability care according to the severity of the injury to your child. The specialist will write an "life care plan" that will outline their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they become adults. This will allow you to calculate an accurate amount of compensation. It usually is in the form of an amount in lump sum and annual payments that are indexed to keep up with the rate of inflation.

It is important to know that the compensation awarded for a successful legal claim is not a quick cash payout. It is a recognition of injustice that occurred because medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of care during labour, pregnancy and delivery.