How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

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

Medical negligence is often the reason for cerebral palsy. It can be caused by a lack of prenatal care, issues during labor and delivery or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP, but early diagnosis and treatment may improve the capabilities of a child. Doctors can diagnose CP by looking at the tone of a child's muscles, movement and coordination. They can refer a child to specialists such as pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists who can assist in managing symptoms and improving life-quality.

Every person suffers from cerebral palsy in a different way. It can be moderate and have only a slight impact on a child's abilities however, it can also be severe and cause impairments in every body part. It can be characterized by a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles and walking difficulties, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If a child only has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's known as diplegia. A severe CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by spasticity in muscles that restricts a person's movements and leads to problems with speech and eating.

Childbirth-related medical errors are a common reason for CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when giving birth to babies as damage to the brain may have serious consequences. A physician could be held responsible for negligence if a medical error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage due to oxygen deficiency. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to monitor and increase the intensity of the labor.

Signs and symptoms

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

Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered by damage to the immature brain, most often in the early years of childhood or in infants. The 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 difficulty swallowing and may require a feeding tube.

Several factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP that can be caused by infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure in pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is the main cause of CP, as is bleeding in the brain from damaged or blocked blood vessels.

Depending on the type of cerebral palsy Attorneys palsy, symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most prevalent form of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled flailing movements of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP which affects the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy can differ, the majority of sufferers of the condition experience stiffness and decrease in muscle control. They may also experience issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement issue that they experience is based on the area of the brain that was injured and the degree of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require specialized physical therapy that helps them improve their muscle tone and mobility as well as stretch and exercise their muscles and joints. It can also relieve the pain and prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments can be incorporated.

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

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

The use of medications can relax stiff or overactive muscles, reduce abnormal movement, alleviate pain, and to control seizures. These medicines can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles or into the fluid that surrounds your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy can result in compensation for your child's for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. The amount of compensation will depend on the mental and physical effects of your child's condition, as well as on any expenses or losses that you might have incurred. These might include loss of income due to having to take a break from work to care for your child, home adaptions and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Depending on the degree of the injury to your child the lawyer might recommend hiring an expert in disability issues to write a "life care plan' that carefully lists all the needs of your child starting from the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This can help calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This is usually in the form of a lump-sum as well as regular annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You must be aware that the compensation for a successful legal case is not a windfall. It's a recognition of injustice that occurred because medical professionals did not provide the care they were supposed to in labour, pregnancy and the delivery.