How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has an enormous impact on the life of the child as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, treatment and support.

Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. It could be due to a lack of medical attention during pregnancy, issues during birth, or other occurrences.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by looking at the child's muscle tone and coordination. They might refer a child to specialists like neurologists, orthopedists for children and physiatrists to aid in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in a unique way. It can be mild and have little impact on the child's capabilities however, it can also be severe and cause impairments across every body part. Some of the symptoms include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head, stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's referred to as hemiplegia; on both sides, it's called diplegia. Severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity, which restricts the movement of a person and can lead to difficulties in speaking and eating.

The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is one of the main causes of CP. Nurses, midwives, and doctors should be extra cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain could have serious consequences. A physician may be held liable for malpractice if a medical error causes cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate a complicated labor.

Symptoms

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

Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by damage to the immature brain, typically during infancy or early childhood. A delay in reaching milestones such as sitting up, crawling, or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP may also have trouble swallowing and may require a feeding device.

Many factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP or CP-related conditions, including infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or cerebral palsy toxoplasmosis in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major reason for CP as is bleeding in the brain caused by blocked or broken blood vessels.

Symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the type. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow motions of the arms, legs and the body. Other forms of CP could include ataxic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by a shaky motion or paraplegic cerebral aphasia where the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy differ, the majority of sufferers have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have problems with balance and coordination. The type of problems they experience will depend on the part of the brain that was injured as well as the degree of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy that can increase their mobility, muscle tone and stretch their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve discomfort and prevent contractures. It could involve exercises, special braces or other treatments.

CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions like patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These can cause major problems in mobility, reducing the lifespan of a patient.

Speech and therapy for language are a way to assist children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways to communicate. This may include sign language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.

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

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child to pay for special care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based upon the physical and mental consequences of your child's condition and any expenses or losses you might have incurred. This could include the loss of income due to you having to quit work to take care of your children, home modifications and transportation expenses.

Based on the extent of your child's injury Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability services to develop a "lifecare plan' that carefully details their needs starting from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will help you calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This typically is a lump sum and regular annual payments that are adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation.

It is important to be aware that the amount of compensation you receive from a legal case isn't a quick buck. It's an acknowledgement that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of taking care during labour, pregnancy and the birth.