How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

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

Many cases of cerebral palsy arise from medical negligence. This could be due to a lack of medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labour and delivery or other events.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however, early diagnosis and treatment can enhance the abilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at the tone of a child's muscles, movement and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists like neurologists, orthopedists for children and physiatrists who can assist in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for children.

Cerebral Palsy affects each person differently. It can be mild and have little impact on a child's abilities, or it can be severe and cause impairments in all body areas. The signs include head that is floppy (floppy neck) as well as a muscles that are stiff or inflexible as well as difficulty walking or having issues with speech or other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's known as hemiplegia. On both sides, it's known as diplegia. Severe CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition characterized by spasticity in muscles that restricts the movement of a person and can lead to difficulties in speaking and eating.

Birth complications are the most common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be careful when delivering the baby as damage to the brain could cause serious problems. A doctor could be held accountable for malpractice if a medical error causes cerebral palsy or brain damage caused by oxygen deficiency. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or failing to control and escalate a complicated labor.

Symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he or will likely suffer from a combination of physical symptoms. The symptoms can include tight or stiff muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. This occurs most often during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones like sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling may be a sign of CP. Children with CP may also have difficulty swallowing and may require a feeding device.

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

The symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the kind of. The most commonly encountered type of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy. It is characterized by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled flailing movements of the arms, legs and the body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which is characterized by a shaky motion) or paraplegic CP, where the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy are different, the majority of sufferers have to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they experience is based on what area of the brain was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy that can improve their mobility, flexibility, and muscle tone, and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also help relieve discomfort and Cerebral palsy prevent contracture. It could include exercises, braces that are specially designed, or other treatments.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis may also be present. These can cause major issues in mobility, which can reduce life expectancy.

Speech and language therapy can be used to assist children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can assist them to learn new ways of communicating and could include sign language, communication boards or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to relax overactive or stiff muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, relieve pain, and control seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you can receive compensation to help you pay for specialist care, equipment, and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based upon the physical and mental impact of your child's condition and any losses or expenses that you might have incurred. This could be a loss of earnings due to you having to work less to care for your children, home adaptations and transport expenses.

Based on the extent of your child's injury the lawyer might recommend hiring a specialist in disability care to draft a 'life care plan' that defines their needs from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will help you determine an exact amount of compensation. This usually takes the form of a lump-sum and recurring annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with inflation.

You must be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal claim isn't a windfall. It is a recognition of unfairness that was caused by a medical professional did not fulfill their duty of care during labour, pregnancy, and birth.