How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have a profound impact on the life of the child and the lives of their parents. Compensation can help them live a full life with access to medical equipment, care and support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be caused by a lack of medical attention during pregnancy, difficulties during birth or other events.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can help improve a child's capabilities. 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 or physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's abilities, or it can be severe and cause impairments in every body part. The signs include Floppy head (floppy neck) stiff or uncontrolled muscle as well as difficulty walking or having difficulties 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; on both sides, it's called diplegia. Severe CP may lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This could limit the ability of a person to move and can cause difficulty with speech and eating.

Birth complications are the most common reason for CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be cautious when delivering babies as brain damage could result in serious consequences. A doctor could be held responsible for malpractice if a medical mistake results in cerebral palsy or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate the intensity of labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child has cerebral palsy, he / is likely to experience an array of physical symptoms. They could be characterized by stiff or tight joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement and problems with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to an immature brain. This occurs most often in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in milestones such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling can be a sign of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding device.

Numerous factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP that can be caused by infections such as rubella, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure in pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A massive lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major reason for Cerebral Palsy CP and bleeding in the brain that results from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.

Symptoms may range from mild to severe based on the type of. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (visit their website) (also called athetoid, choreoathetoid, choreoathetoid) is known as a uncontrolled and slow writhing of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shaky motion) or paraplegic CP which affects the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Although the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy are different, the majority of sufferers of the condition have to deal with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with balance and coordination. The type of problems they have depend on the region of the brain that was injured as well as its 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 strengthen their joints and muscles. It can also relieve the pain and help prevent contractures. Braces, exercises, or other treatments can be incorporated.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

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

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

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy is successful, you may receive compensation to help pay for your child's medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. The compensation will be based on the mental and physical effects of your child's illness as well as any losses or expenses you may have suffered. This could include the loss of income due to having to quit work to care for your children, house modifications and transport expenses.

Based on the degree of the injury to your child the lawyer may recommend a specialist in disability care to develop a "lifecare plan' that meticulously lists all the needs of your child starting from the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. It typically takes the form of an amount in lump sum and annual payments, which can be indexed to keep up with the rate of inflation.

It is important to be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal claim isn't a windfall. It's a way of acknowledging an wrongdoing that occurred because the medical professional failed to provide the care they were supposed to during labour, pregnancy and the delivery.