The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can help them live a full and active life by providing access equipment and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This could be caused by an absence of care during pregnancy, problems during the birth process or other incidents.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can improve a child’s abilities. Doctors diagnose CP through the child's muscle coordination and tone. They may refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in a unique way. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's abilities or severe and cause impairments in all body areas. The signs can include a Floppy head (floppy neck) as well as a muscles that are stiff and uncontrolled as well as difficulty walking or having difficulties with speech and other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's diplegia. A severe CP could cause locked in (spastic) condition, which is characterized by muscle spasticity. This can restrict the person's mobility and cause difficulty with speech and eating.
The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is the leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when delivering babies as brain damage could have serious consequences. If a medical error causes oxygen deprivation or other brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held accountable for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a Csection urgently or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of labor.
Symptoms
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy lawyers palsy, they will most likely display a variety of physical signs. The symptoms can include tight or stiff muscles or joints, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and problems with balance and posture. Other issues could include speech delays, intellectual disability and hearing and vision issues.
Cerebral palsy symptoms are caused due to damage to the young brain, usually during infancy or early childhood. A delay in milestones such as sitting, rolling over, crawling, or walking can be an indication of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have trouble swallowing and Palsy might need a feeding tube.
Many factors can contribute to the brain injury that causes CP. This includes infections such as toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a massive lack of oxygen) during labor or delivery is the main cause of CP.
The symptoms can be mild or extreme based on the type. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as athetoid, choreoathetoid, or choreoathetoid), is characterized by the uncontrolled writhing and swaying of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shaky motion) or paraplegic CP in which the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy differ, the majority of people suffering from the condition are required to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of movement problem that they suffer from is dependent on which brain area was injured and the severity 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 ease the discomfort and help prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments could be incorporated.
Musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia, patella alta, cervical stenosis, and scoliosis are common in CP. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues and reduce life expectancy.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapies 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 medicines can be used to stop abnormal movements, ease seizures, and ease pain. These drugs can be taken orally, or directly injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid around your spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The amount will be determined upon the physical and mental effects of your child's condition, as well as on any losses or expenses you may have suffered. This could be a loss of earnings because you had to work less to care for your children, house modifications and transport costs.
Depending on the severity of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend an expert in disability issues to draft a 'life care plan' that clearly outlines all their needs from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This can help determine an exact compensation amount. This usually takes the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with inflation.
You must be aware that the amount of compensation you receive for a legal case that is successful is not a monetary windfall. It is a recognition that injustice has occurred due to medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.