How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy will have profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can help them live an active and fulfilling life by providing access, equipment and support.
Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. This could be due to an absence of care during pregnancy, or problems during birth or other events.
Causes
There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment can enhance the child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP in relation to the child's movements, muscle tone and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve quality of life.
Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's ability, or it can be severe and cause impairments across all body areas. The signs include an oversized (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles as well as difficulty walking or having difficulty speaking and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's known as diplegia. In severe cases, CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity that restricts the person's movement and can lead to issues with speech and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are the leading cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be extra cautious when giving birth to babies because brain damage may have serious consequences. If a medical mistake causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for malpractice. This includes negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or inability to supervise and escalate the complexity of labor.
Symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely exhibit a variety of physical signs. These may include tight or stiff joints or muscles, a limp, involuntary movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include intellectual disabilities, speech delays as well as hearing and vision issues.
Cerebral Palsy symptoms are caused by damage to the immature brain, typically in infancy or early childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.
Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP that can be caused by infections such as rubella, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during birth or labor is a major reason for CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
Depending on the form of cerebral palsy, the symptoms may range from mild to severe. The most frequent kind of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral psoriasis, which is manifested by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid, choreoathetoid and choreoathetoid) is defined by slow and uncontrolled writhing of the legs, arms, and 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
Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy may vary, the majority patients with the condition experience stiffness and decrease in muscle control. They may also have problems with balance and coordination. The type of issues they experience will depend on the part of the brain that was injured as well as the extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP need special physical therapy that can improve their mobility, tone of muscles, and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also relieve the discomfort and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises, or other treatments may be considered.
Musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and cervical stenosis are prevalent in CP. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways of communicating and could include signing language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.
The use of medications can ease stiff or overactive muscles to reduce abnormal movement, alleviate pain, and to control seizures. These medications can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles, or into the fluid around your spinal cord.
Compensation
If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you could receive compensation to help provide your child with medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as the costs and losses you've incurred. This could include the loss of income due to having to leave work in order to take care of your child, house modifications and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.
Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability-related care dependent on the severity of the injuries to your child. The specialist will write an "life care plan" that will outline their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This can help you calculate the most accurate amount of compensation. This is usually in the form of a lump-sum and annual installments, which can be index to keep up with the rate of inflation.
It is important to understand that the compensation for a legal case that is successful is not a quick cash payout. cerebral palsy attorney brockton 's an acknowledgement that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals failed to fulfill their obligation to care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.