How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy lawsuits paralysis can have profound effects on the child's life and the lives of their families. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, treatment and support.

Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy lawsuits palsy. This could be caused by a lack of care during pregnancy, problems during the birth process or other incidents.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's abilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's function, or severe and cause physical impairments throughout the body. Some of the symptoms include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled and walking difficulties, or having difficulty speaking and other functions. If cerebral palsy only affects one side of a child's body, it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, it is referred to as diplegia. Severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity, which restricts an individual's movements and leads to difficulties in speaking and eating.

Childbirth-related medical errors are a common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be extra cautious when giving birth to babies as brain damage could result in serious consequences. A physician could be held accountable for mistakes made in the medical field if an error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing an urgent C-section, or the failure to monitor and escalate a complicated labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child has cerebral palsy (More), he or is likely to experience an array of physical symptoms. They could be characterized by tight or stiff joints, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other problems can include speech delays, intellectual disability and vision and hearing issues.

Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered by damage to the immature brain, usually during infancy or early childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

Several factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP or CP-related conditions, including infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe deficiency of oxygen) during labor or birth is the leading cause of CP.

Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered form. Dyskinetic cerebral Palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid and choreoathetoid) is characterized by uncontrolled and slow writhing of the arms, legs and body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy that has shakey movements and paraplegic cerebral parsy where legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most people suffering from the condition are required to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of problems they experience will depend on the part of the brain that was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy which helps them improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and work their muscles and joints. It can also relieve the pain and prevent contractures. It can include exercises, special braces, or other treatments.

CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems like patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

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

These medications can be used to relax stiff or overactive muscles to reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain and seizures. These drugs can be taken orally or directly into the muscles affected, or into the surrounding fluid of your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy can result in compensation for your child to pay for special care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any losses and cerebral palsy expenses you've had to pay. This could be a loss of earnings due to you having to work less to care for your children, home adaptations and transport expenses.

Your lawyer might hire an expert in disability care according to the degree of the injury to your child. The specialist will write an "life care plan" that details their needs from the moment they are diagnosed until they are adults. This will help you determine an exact amount of compensation. It typically is in the form of a lump sum and regular annual payments which can be adjusted to reflect inflation.

It is important to know that the compensation resulting from a successful legal case isn't a quick buck. It's a recognition that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals didn't fulfill their obligation to providing care during labor, pregnancy and delivery.