An In-Depth Look Back How People Discussed Cerebral Palsy Attorneys 20 Years Ago
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have profound implications on the child's life and that of their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full life with access to the equipment, care and assistance.
Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. It could be due to an absence of care during pregnancy, or problems during birth, or other occurrences.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors determine CP in relation to the child's movements, muscle coordination and tone. They might refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Cerebral Palsy affects each person differently. It can be moderate and have only a slight impact on a child's ability or severe and cause impairments across every body part. cerebral palsy lawsuit denver can include a head that is floppy (floppy neck) muscles that are stiff or inflexible and walking difficulties, or difficulties with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy only affects one side of a child's body, then it is known as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, then it is called diplegia. The severity of CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that causes muscle spasticity, which restricts the person's movement and can lead to difficulties with speech and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be cautious when giving birth to the baby as damage to the brain can cause serious harm. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain damage that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for negligence. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate an arduous labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they will likely exhibit a range of physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, as well as issues with posture and balance. Other problems include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing problems.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to the brain's maturation. This is usually the case during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as sitting up, crawling, or walking is a typical sign 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, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during birth or labor is a major reason for CP and bleeding in the brain from damaged or blocked blood vessels.
Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most frequent type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow motions of the arms, legs and body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shakey movement) or paraplegic CP which affects the legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most sufferers have to deal with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of movement problems they have depend on the region of the brain that was injured and the degree of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy to improve their mobility, flexibility, and muscle tone, and stretch their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve the pain and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises, or other treatments may be incorporated.
CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, which can reduce life expectancy.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This may help them discover new ways of communicating and could involve signing language, communication boards or voice synthesizers.
These medicines can be used to stop abnormal movements, decrease seizures, and ease pain. The medications are administered by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you may receive compensation to you pay for specialist care, equipment, and treatment. This will be based on the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has had on them, as well as any losses and expenses you've incurred. This could include loss of earnings because you had to work less to care for your children, home adaptations and transportation expenses.
Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability-related care according to the severity of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child starting at the time of diagnosis until they are adults. This can help calculate a more accurate compensation sum. It typically is in the form of lump sums as well as regular annual payments that are adjusted to reflect inflation.
You should be aware that compensation from a successful legal claim isn't a windfall. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals did not fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.