How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can enable them to lead an active and fulfilling life by providing access, equipment and support.
Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. This can be caused by inadequate prenatal care, issues during labor and birth or other occurrences.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can enhance a child's abilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by looking at the tone of a child's muscles and coordination, as well as movement. cerebral palsy lawsuit boston can refer children to specialists such as neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists who can assist in managing symptoms and increase life-quality.
Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently. It can be mild having a minimal impact on a child's function, or it can be extremely severe and result in impairments throughout the body. The symptoms can include a Floppy head (floppy neck) muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled that is difficult to walk or has difficulties with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only one side of the child's body, then it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, then it is called diplegia. The severity of CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition characterized by muscle spasticity, which restricts the movement of a person and can lead to problems with speech and eating.
Birth-related medical errors are a leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives, and nurses should 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 C-section urgently or not being able to monitor and escalate an intense labor.
Symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he / will likely suffer from an array of physical symptoms. This could include tight or stiff joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues can include intellectual disability, speech delays and hearing and vision problems.
Cerebral Palsy symptoms are caused by damage to the developing brain, typically in the early years of childhood or in infants. A slowing down in reaching milestones such as sitting up, crawling or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.
Numerous factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP, including infections like toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during labor or delivery is a major cause for CP and bleeding in the brain caused by blood vessels that are damaged or blocked.
Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. The most common type of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy, which is manifested by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid and choreoathetoid), is defined by slow and uncontrolled writhing of the arms, legs and body. Other forms 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
Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy may differ, the majority of people suffering from the condition experience stiffness and loss in muscle control. They may also be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of problems they experience is dependent on the area of their brain that was injured as well as its extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP need specific physical therapy in order to increase their muscle tone, mobility, and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also help relieve pain and prevent contracture. It could involve exercises, braces that are specially designed, or other treatments.
CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These can cause major problems in mobility, which reduces the lifespan of a patient.
Speech and therapy for language are a way to help children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help them learn new ways of communicating and could involve signing language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
Medications can be used to relax overactive or stiff muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, alleviate pain, and to control seizures. The medications are administered 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 can receive compensation to help provide your child with specialist care, equipment, and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as the costs and losses that you've incurred. This could include the loss of income due to the fact that you have to work less to care for your children, house modifications and transport expenses.
Depending on the extent of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend a specialist in disability care to write a "life care plan' that meticulously details their needs from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This can help calculate an exact compensation amount. It typically is an amount in lump sum and annual payments that are adjusted to keep pace with inflation.
It is important to know that a payout from a legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition that injustice was committed, all because a medical professional failed in their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.