How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, treatment and assistance.
Medical negligence is usually the reason for cerebral palsy. This can be caused by the lack of medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labour and delivery or other occurrences.
Causes
There is no cure for CP, but early diagnosis and treatment can help improve the abilities of a child. Doctors can diagnose CP by looking at the tone of a child's muscles and coordination, as well as movement. They may refer children to specialists such as neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists who can assist in managing symptoms and increase the quality of life.
Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild and have little impact on a child's abilities or severe and cause impairments in every body part. Some of the symptoms include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles that are difficult to walk, or having difficulty speaking and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, this is known as hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's called diplegia. In severe cases, CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity, which restricts the person's movement and can lead to difficulties with speech and eating.
Childbirth-related medical errors are the most common reason for CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses should be cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain may cause serious problems. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held accountable for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he / is likely to experience an array of physical symptoms. They could be characterized by stiff or tight joints, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. It usually occurs during the infancy years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as rolling over, standing up, crawling or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have trouble swallowing and might need a feeding tube.
Many factors can contribute to the brain injury that causes CP. This includes diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. cerebral palsy lawyer jacksonville (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or delivery is the main cause of CP.
Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can range 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 flailing movements of the legs, arms and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which is characterized by a shaky motion) or paraplegic CP in which the legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy can differ, most people suffering from the condition experience stiffness and decrease in muscle control. They might also have problems with coordination and balance. The type of 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 that can improve their muscle tone, mobility, and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also help relieve tension and prevent contractures. It could involve exercises, special braces or other treatments.
CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems, such as hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, reducing the lifespan of a patient.
Speech and language therapy can be used to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. This may help them discover new ways of communicating and may include sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
Medications can be used to relax overactive or stiff muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. The medications are administered by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the surrounding fluid around the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialized care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to any costs or losses you've incurred. This could include the loss of income due to having to quit work to care for your children, home modifications and transport expenses.
The lawyer you hire may employ an expert in disability care according to the degree of the injury to your child. The specialist will create a "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child starting at the time of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This can help calculate the most accurate compensation amount. This usually is in the form of lump sums and regular annual payments which can be adjusted to reflect inflation.
You should be aware that a payout from a legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition of the fact that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals didn't fulfill their obligation to medical care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.