How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy will have profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a fuller life, with access to the equipment, care and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. This could be due to inadequate care during pregnancy, problems during delivery or other incidents.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors determine CP based on 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 the quality of life.
Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy in a different way. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's ability to function, or it can be extremely severe and result in impairments throughout the body. The signs include neck that is floppy (floppy neck), stiff or uncontrolled muscle, difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy is only affecting the child's body, it is known as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, then it is called diplegia. A severe CP may lead to locked in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This could limit the person's mobility and cause difficulty with speech and eating.
Childbirth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Nurses, doctors, and midwives should be cautious when delivering babies as damage to the brain can cause serious problems. A doctor could be held responsible for malpractice if a medical mistake results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or the failure to monitor and escalate a complex labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he or will likely suffer from various physical symptoms. These could include tight joints or stiff joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing problems.
Cerebral palsy symptoms are caused by damage to the developing brain, usually during infancy or early childhood. A delay in milestones such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling may be a sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulty swallowing and may require feeding tubes.
Several factors may contribute to a brain injury that leads to CP. This includes diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is a major cause of CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain due to blood vessels that are damaged or blocked.
Symptoms may range from mild to extreme based on the type. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as athetoid, choreoathetoid, or choreoathetoid), is characterised by a the uncontrolled writhing and swaying of the legs, arms, and body. cerebral palsy attorney killeen of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shaky motion) or paraplegic CP that affects the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
Although the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy differ, the majority of sufferers of the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of movement problems they suffer from depend on the part of the brain that was injured as well as its extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP require specialized physical therapy that helps them to improve their mobility and muscle tone as well as stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also help relieve discomfort and prevent contracture. Exercises, braces or other treatments could be incorporated.
CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems and reduce life expectancy.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapies for children who cannot communicate effectively. This may help them discover new ways to communicate and could include sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
These medications are used to limit abnormal movements, decrease the pain, and manage seizures. These drugs 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 can result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the mental and physical consequences of your child's condition, as well as on any expenses or losses you may have suffered. These could include loss of earnings as you had to take a break from work to care for your child, home adaptations and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability care, depending on the severity of the injuries to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child starting at the time of diagnosis until they turn adults. This will allow you to calculate the most accurate amount of compensation. This usually takes the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which can be index to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
You should know that the amount of compensation you receive for a successful legal case is not a monetary windfall. It's an acknowledgement of injustice that occurred because a medical professional did not provide the care they were supposed to during labour, pregnancy and birth.