How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has a profound impact on the child's life and the lives of their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and active life by providing access to care and equipment, as well as support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy law firms palsy result from medical negligence. This could be caused by inadequate medical attention during pregnancy, issues during birth, or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment can enhance the abilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They can refer children to specialists like pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists, who can aid in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Every person suffers from cerebral palsy differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on a child's abilities but it can also be severe and cause impairments to every body part. The symptoms can include a Floppy head (floppy neck) stiff or uncontrolled muscle as well as difficulty walking or having issues with speech or other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia; on both sides, it's diplegia. The severity of CP may lead to locked in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. This can limit a person's movement and make it difficult to speak and eating.

Childbirth-related mistakes made by doctors are one of the main causes of CP. Nurses, doctors, and midwives should be extra cautious when delivering the baby as damage to the brain may result in serious consequences. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for negligence. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing an urgent C-section, or failure to monitor and escalate a complex labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he or is likely to have an array of physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles and a limp, involuntary movements, as well as issues with balance and posture. Other problems can include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and vision and hearing issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to the brain's immature state. It usually occurs in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP and other conditions, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major reason for CP, as is bleeding in the brain from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.

Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most frequent form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled flailing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP can include ataxic palsy, which has an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy law firm palsy that affects the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy are different, the majority of sufferers have to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement problem that they suffer from is dependent on what area of the brain was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy which helps them to improve their mobility and muscle tone as well as stretch and exercise their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve pain and prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments may be incorporated.

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

Other treatments may include speech and language therapies for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways of communicating. These may include sign language, communication board, or voice synthesizers.

The use of medications can relax overactive or stiff muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. These medications can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles, or into the fluid around your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. This will be based on the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has had on them, in addition to any losses and expenses you have incurred. This could be a loss of earnings due to having to quit work to take care of your children, home adaptations and transportation expenses.

Depending on the severity of your child's injury Your lawyer could hire a specialist in disability care to write a "life care plan' that clearly lists all the needs of your child beginning with the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This can help you calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This usually takes the form of a lump sum and regular annual payments that can be indexed to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You must be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because a medical professional failed in their obligation to care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.