How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have an enormous impact on the life of the child as well as the lives of their parents. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, care and assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This could be caused by an absence of medical attention during pregnancy, difficulties during delivery or other incidents.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's movements, muscle coordination and tone. They might 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.

Cerebral palsy affects all people differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the abilities of a child or severe and cause impairments across all body areas. The signs include an oversized (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled that are difficult to walk, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's known as hemiplegia. On both sides, it's diplegia. In severe cases, CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that causes muscle spasticity that limits the person's movement and can lead to difficulties in speaking and eating.

Childbirth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be aware when delivering babies because brain damage can result in serious consequences. A physician could be held responsible for mistakes made in the medical field if an error causes cerebral palsy or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or failure to control and escalate a complicated labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they will most likely exhibit a variety of physical signs. These may include tight joints or stiff joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disability and hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain of an infant. This occurs most often during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as standing up, crawling or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and cerebral Palsy Attorneys may require feeding tubes.

Several factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure in pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe deficiency of oxygen) during labor or birth is the most common cause of CP.

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

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy vary, most people with the condition have to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have problems with balance and coordination. The type of problems they experience will depend on the area of their brain that was injured as well as the extent of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy to improve their mobility, muscle tone, and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also help relieve discomfort and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises, or other treatments could be incorporated.

Musculoskeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia, patella alta, scoliosis, and cervical stenosis are prevalent in CP. These can cause major issues in mobility, which decreases the lifespan of a patient.

Speech and therapy for language may be used to aid children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways of communicating and may include sign language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.

These medicines can be used to stop abnormal movements, decrease pain, and control seizures. These medications can be taken by mouth or directly into the affected muscles, or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the physical and mental impact of your child's condition and any losses or expenses you might have incurred. This could include lost earnings due to having to stop working to take care of your children, home adaptations and transport expenses.

Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability dependent on the severity of the injuries to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" that outlines their needs starting at the time of diagnosis until they become adults. This can help you calculate an exact amount of compensation. This is usually in the form of a lump-sum and recurring annual payments which may be indexed to keep pace with the rate of inflation.

You must be aware that compensation from a successful legal case isn't a quick buck. It's an acknowledgement that injustice has occurred, and all due to a medical professional failed in their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.