The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can help them live an active and full life by providing access to care equipment and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy arise from medical negligence. This can be caused by inadequate prenatal care, issues during labor and delivery, or other occurrences.
Causes
There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can enhance the child's capabilities. Doctors determine CP through the child's movements, muscle tone and coordination. They can refer a child to specialists like neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists, who can assist in managing symptoms and increase quality of life.
Everyone suffers from cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's abilities or severe and cause impairments across all areas of the body. The signs include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head as well as stiff or uncontrolled muscles as well as difficulty walking or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, this is known as hemiplegia. On both sides, it's diplegia. In severe cases, CP could cause locked in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. This may limit the person's mobility and make it difficult to speak and eating.
The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is an often-repeated reason for CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be aware when delivering babies since brain damage can cause serious harm. A physician could be held accountable for negligence if a medical error causes cerebral palsy or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or failing to control and escalate a complicated labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely display a variety of physical symptoms. These symptoms may include stiff or tight muscles and a limp, involuntary movement, and issues with posture and balance. Other problems include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision problems.
Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered due to damage to the young brain, usually in the early years of childhood or in infants. A delay in reaching milestones, such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children with CP may also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.
Numerous factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP or CP-related conditions, including infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major reason for CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain due to blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
The symptoms may range from mild to severe based on the type of. The most commonly encountered form of cerebral palsy lawsuits palsy is spastic cerebral palsy. It is manifested by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled movement of the arms, legs and the body. Other types of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy attorneys palsy that has an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy that affects legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
While the symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, the majority of people suffering from the condition experience stiffness, as well as a decrease in muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of movement problem that they experience is based on the area of the brain that was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP need special physical therapy to improve their mobility, flexibility, and muscle tone, and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also relieve the pain and prevent contractures. It can include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.
CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems that include patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems that reduce the lifespan.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapy for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can assist them to discover new ways to communicate and could include sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to ease stiff or overactive muscles and reduce abnormal movement. They also reduce pain, and manage seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the physical and mental effects of your child's illness as well as any losses or expenses you might have incurred. This could include the loss of income due to having to stop working to care for your children, home modifications and transport expenses.
Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability-related care according to the severity of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft an "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child starting at the time of diagnosis until they turn adults. This can help determine an accurate amount of compensation. This is usually in the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which may be indexed to keep pace with inflation.
You should be aware that compensation from a successful legal case isn't a quick buck. It is a recognition of wrongdoing that occurred because medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of care in labour, pregnancy and delivery.