How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can help them lead an active and fulfilling life by providing access to care, equipment and support.

Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. This could be due to inadequate care during pregnancy, or problems during delivery or other incidents.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment can help improve a child's abilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the muscle tone of a child, movement and coordination. They can refer a child to specialists like pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists to help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the abilities of a child however, it can also be severe and cause impairments in all body parts. The symptoms could include a floppy head (floppy neck), muscles that are stiff or inflexible, difficulty walking or having issues with speech or 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 known as diplegia. A severe CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition characterized by spasticity in muscles that restricts an individual's movements and leads to problems with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes in childbirth are the most common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain may result in serious consequences. A physician could be held responsible for malpractice if a medical mistake results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage caused by oxygen deficiency. This includes a lack of planning or performing a C-section urgently or inability to monitor and escalate a complicated labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely show a variety of physical symptoms. These could include tight or stiff joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movement and problems with balance and posture. Other issues can include intellectual disability, speech delays and hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. It is most commonly seen in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking is a typical sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have trouble swallowing and might need feeding tubes.

Several factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP that can be caused by infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe lack of oxygen) during delivery or labor is the most common cause of CP.

Depending on the form of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common type of cerebral palsy can be described as spastic cerebral psoriasis, which is manifested by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy attorneys Palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid, choreoathetoid), is known as a slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the legs, arms and body. Other forms of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by a shaky motion or paraplegic cerebral palsy lawyer palsy that affects the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, a majority of people with the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of problem that they have depends on which brain area was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people with CP need special physical therapy that can improve their muscle tone, mobility and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also help relieve pain and prevent contracture. Exercises, braces or other treatments can be included.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These can cause major issues in mobility, which can reduce the lifespan of a patient.

Speech and language therapy can be used to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways of communicating and could include sign language, communication board or voice synthesizers.

These medications are used to limit abnormal movements, decrease pain, and prevent seizures. These medications are taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you will receive compensation to you pay for specialist care, equipment, and treatment. This will be based on the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any costs or losses you've incurred. These might include loss of earnings because you have had to stop work to care for your child, house modifications and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.

Based on the severity of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend a specialist in disability care to create a "life care plan' that meticulously defines their needs beginning with the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will allow you to calculate an exact compensation amount. This is usually in the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.

It is important to be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal action isn't a gimmick. It is a recognition of unfairness that was caused by medical professionals failed to meet their duty of care during labour, pregnancy and birth.