How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, treatment and support.
Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be due to a lack of medical attention during pregnancy, issues during delivery or other incidents.
Causes
There is no cure for CP, but early diagnosis and treatment can enhance the abilities of a child. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the tone of a child's muscles and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Every person is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild, with no impact on a child's ability function, or severe enough to cause physical impairments throughout the body. It can be characterized by a floppy (floppy neck) head, stiff or uncontrolled muscles that are difficult to walk, or having difficulty speaking 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 could result in locked in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This may limit the person's mobility and cause difficulty with speech and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are the leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be extra cautious when giving birth to babies since brain damage can result in serious consequences. A physician could be held accountable for malpractice if a medical mistake results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This includes a lack of planning or performing an urgent C-section or inability to monitor and escalate a complex labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they will most likely show a variety of physical signs. These could include tight or stiff joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movement and issues with balance and posture. Other problems include intellectual disabilities, speech delays as well as hearing and vision problems.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's immature state. It usually occurs during the infancy years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling can be a sign of CP. Children with CP may also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.
Numerous factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP and other conditions, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or delivery is the most common cause of CP.
Based on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms can range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered form. Dyskinetic cerebral Palsy (also known as athetoid choreoathetoid, choreoathetoid) is characterised by a uncontrolled and slow writhing of the legs, arms and the body. Other forms of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy, characterized by a shaky motion and paraplegic cerebral parsy where the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy can differ, most people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness and loss in muscle control. They may also experience issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement issue that they have depends on the area of the brain that was injured and the severity of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP need special physical therapy to improve their muscle tone, mobility and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also help relieve discomfort and prevent contractures. It can include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.
Musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, scoliosis are prevalent in CP. These can cause major issues in mobility, which can reduce the lifespan of a patient.
Speech and therapy for language can be used to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. This may help them discover new ways to communicate and could involve signing language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
cerebral palsy law firm broken arrow can be used to decrease abnormal movements, reduce pain, and prevent seizures. These drugs can be taken by mouth or directly into the affected muscles or into the fluid around your spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. The compensation will be based on the mental and physical effects of your child's illness and any losses or expenses you might have incurred. This could include losing earnings because you have had to leave work in order to take care of your child, home modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Your lawyer might hire an expert in disability in accordance with the severity of the injuries to your child. The specialist will create an "life care plan" that details their needs starting at the time of diagnosis until they turn adults. This will help you calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This usually is an amount in lump sum and annual payments which can be adjusted to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
It is important to know that the compensation resulting from a successful legal action isn't a gimmick. It's a way of acknowledging an the injustice that occurred due to the fact that medical professionals did not perform their duty of care in labour, pregnancy and delivery.