How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have profound implications on the life of the child and the lives of their parents. Compensation can allow them to have a fulfilling life by giving them access to equipment, treatment and support.
Medical negligence is usually the cause of cerebral palsy. This could be due to the lack of prenatal care, complications during labor and delivery or other events.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's abilities. Doctors diagnose CP based on a child's movement, muscle coordination and tone. They may refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild, with minimal impact on a child's ability to function, or severe and cause impairments throughout the body. The symptoms could include a floppy head (floppy neck) as well as a stiff or uncontrolled muscle and walking difficulties, or issues with speech or other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only one side of a child's body, it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, it is referred to as diplegia. The severity of CP may lead to a locked in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. cerebral palsy law firm lawrence can limit a person's movement and create difficulties with speech and eating.
Medical mistakes in childbirth are an often-repeated cause of CP. Nurses, midwives, and doctors should be extra cautious when delivering babies as damage to the brain may cause serious harm. If a medical error causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for negligence. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or inability to monitor and escalate a complex labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child has cerebral palsy, he or is likely to experience a combination of physical symptoms. These may include tight joints or stiff joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues can include intellectual disability, speech delays and hearing and vision issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's immature state. It is most commonly seen during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones such as rolling over, sitting, walking, or crawling may be a sign of CP. Children suffering from CP might also have trouble swallowing and may require a feeding device.
Numerous factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP that can be caused by infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe deficiency of oxygen) during delivery or labor is a leading cause of CP.
Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most prevalent kind of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral psoriasis, which is defined by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled movement of the legs, arms and the body. Other forms of CP could include ataxic cerebral palsy that has shakey movements or paraplegic cerebral palsy in which the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy are different, the majority of people with the condition have to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of movement problem that they suffer from is dependent on which brain area was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people with CP require special physical therapy which helps them to improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and strengthen their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve pain and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises or other treatments can be incorporated.
CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These can cause major problems in mobility, which decreases the life expectancy of patients.
Other treatments can include speech and language therapy for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This may help them discover new ways of communicating and could involve signing language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to ease stiff or overactive muscles to reduce abnormal movement, alleviate pain, and to control seizures. These medicines can be taken by mouth or directly into the muscles affected, or into the surrounding fluid of your spinal cord.
Compensation
If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you could be compensated to provide your child with medical attention, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impacts that your child's condition has had on them, as well as any losses and expenses you have incurred. This could include the loss of earnings as you had to stop work to care for your child, home adaptions and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.
The lawyer you hire may employ an expert in disability-related care, depending on the severity of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft an "life care plan" that will outline their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they become adults. This can help you calculate the most accurate amount of compensation. It typically will be an amount in lump sum and annual payments, which can be adjusted to keep up with inflation.
You should know that compensation for a legal case that is successful is not a windfall. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals did not fulfill their duty of taking care during labour, pregnancy and the birth.