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 parents. Compensation can allow them to live a full and active life by providing access to care, equipment and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. It can be caused by an absence of prenatal care, problems during labor and delivery or other events.
Causes
There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can improve the abilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP in relation to the child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They can refer children to specialists such as neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists to aid in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Cerebral palsy affects all people differently. It can be mild with minimal impact on a child's ability to perform, or it can be severe and result in impairments throughout the body. Some of the symptoms include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy is only affecting one side of the child's body, it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is known as diplegia. The severity of CP could result in a locked-in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This could limit the ability of a person to move and can result in difficulty speaking and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are a leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be careful when delivering babies as brain damage could result in serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held accountable for negligence. This includes a lack of planning or performing a C-section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate a complicated labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he or will likely suffer from an array of physical symptoms. These symptoms may include stiff or tight muscles and a limp, involuntary movements, and problems with posture and balance. Other issues include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and hearing and vision problems.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. This occurs most often during the infancy years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as rolling over, standing up, crawling or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children with CP may also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.
A variety of factors can cause an injury to the brain that results in CP. This includes infections such as 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 the main cause of CP and bleeding in the brain caused by blocked or broken blood vessels.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the kind of. 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 slow and uncontrolled writhing of the legs, arms, and body. Other types of CP could include ataxic cerebral palsy, characterized by a shaky motion or paraplegic cerebral palsy, in which the legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
Although 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 have problems with balance and coordination. The type of movement issue that they have depends on which brain area was injured and the severity of the injury.
Many people with CP require specialized physical therapy that helps them to improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also relieve pain and prevent contracture. It can include exercises, special braces, or other treatments.
CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems that include hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These disorders can lead to significant mobility issues that reduce the lifespan.
Speech and therapy for language are a way to aid children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways to communicate. This may include communication board or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to stop the abnormal movement, reduce pain, and prevent seizures. cerebral palsy law firm fairfield are ingested by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialist care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to any costs or losses you've had to pay. This could include lost earnings due to the fact that you have to stop working to care for your children, home modifications and transportation costs.
Based on the severity of your child's injuries, your lawyer may hire an expert in disability care to draft a 'life care plan' that clearly details their needs from the time of their diagnosis until adulthood. This can help you calculate an accurate amount of compensation. It is typically in the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which could be indexed to keep up with inflation.
It is important to know that the compensation for a successful legal case is not a quick cash payout. It's a recognition of the fact that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of taking care during labour, pregnancy and the birth.