How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has a profound impact on the life of the child as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can help them live an active and full life by providing access, equipment and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. This could be caused by a lack of care during pregnancy, problems during birth or other events.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's abilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by looking at a child's muscle tone, movement and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve quality of life.
Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild, with minimal impact on a child's function, or severe enough to cause physical impairments throughout the body. The signs include neck that is floppy (floppy neck) as well as a muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled as well as difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy only affects one side of a child's body, then it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, then it's called diplegia. A severe CP could result in locked in (spastic) condition, which is characterized by muscle spasticity. This can restrict the person's mobility and result in difficulty speaking and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives, and nurses should be cautious when delivering babies as brain damage could have serious consequences. A doctor may be held liable for malpractice if a medical error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or inability to monitor and escalate a complex labor.
Symptoms
If your child has cerebral palsy, he or is likely to have several physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles and a limp, involuntary movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision issues.
Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered by damage to the immature brain, which is usually seen in early childhood or infants. A slowing down in reaching milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a typical sign of CP. Children with CP may also have difficulties swallowing, and may need a feeding device.
There are cerebral palsy lawsuit gresham of factors that can contribute to an injury to the brain that results in CP. These include infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb; high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during birth or labor is a major cause for CP and bleeding in the brain caused by blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
Depending on the form of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP that affects the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy may differ, most people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness and a loss in muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement problems they experience is dependent on the part of the brain which was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP require specialized physical therapy that helps them improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also ease the pain and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises or other treatments may be incorporated.
Musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, and scoliosis are prevalent in CP. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems that reduce the lifespan.
Speech and therapy for language can be used to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways of communicating and could include sign language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to decrease abnormal movements, decrease seizures, and ease pain. These medications are ingested by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you may be awarded compensation to cover the cost of special care, equipment, and treatment. The compensation will be based on the physical and mental effects of your child's illness and any losses or expenses you may have incurred. This could be a loss of earnings due to you having to take a break from work to care for your children, house modifications and transportation expenses.
Depending on the severity of your child's injury Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability issues to write a "life care plan' that clearly details their needs from the time of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. It usually will be lump sums as well as regular annual payments that can be indexed to keep up with the rate of inflation.
You should know that the amount of compensation you receive for a successful legal matter is not a cash-flow opportunity. It's a way of acknowledging an injustice that occurred because the medical professional failed to meet their duty of care during labour, pregnancy and delivery.