A Provocative Rant About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full life with access to medical equipment, care and assistance. Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. It could be due to the lack of care during pregnancy, or problems during birth or other events. Causes There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment may improve the child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at a child's muscle tone and coordination. They may refer children to specialists like neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists who will help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life. Cerebral Palsy affects each person differently. It can be mild, with minimal impact on a child's ability to perform, or it can be severe and result in impairments throughout the body. The symptoms could include a Floppy head (floppy neck) stiff or uncontrolled muscle, difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only the child's body, then it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is known as diplegia. A severe CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition characterized by muscle spasticity that restricts the person's movement and can lead to issues with speech and eating. Childbirth-related medical errors are an often-repeated reason for CP. Nurses, midwives, and doctors must be careful when delivering a baby because damage to the brain may cause serious harm. A physician could be held responsible for mistakes made in the medical field if an error causes cerebral palsy or brain damage due to oxygen deficiency. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a Csection urgently or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of the labor. Signs and symptoms If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he or she will likely have a combination of physical symptoms. They could be characterized by tight joints or stiff joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. cerebral palsy lawyer santa clara can include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision issues. Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by a degeneration of the brain, which is usually seen during infancy or early childhood. A slowing down in reaching 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 require a feeding device. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to an injury to the brain that results in CP. These include infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella during pregnancy; high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during birth or labor is a major cause for CP as is bleeding in the brain due to blood vessels that are damaged or blocked. 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) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled movement of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP which affects the legs and arms are affected. Treatment The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most sufferers of the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement problem that they face is determined by which brain area was injured and the degree of the injury. Many people with CP require special physical therapy to improve their mobility, flexibility, and muscle tone, and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also relieve the pain and prevent contracture. It could involve exercises, special braces or other treatments. Musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, scoliosis are common in CP. These can cause major problems in mobility, reducing the life expectancy of patients. Other treatments may include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can help them learn new ways of communicating and could include sign language, communication boards or voice synthesizers. They can relax overactive or stiff muscles and reduce abnormal movement. They also reduce pain, and manage seizures. These drugs can be taken orally, or directly injected into the affected muscles, or into the fluid around your spinal cord. Compensation If your cerebral palsy case is successful, you will be awarded compensation to you pay for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any costs or losses you have incurred. This could include loss of earnings due to you having to work less to take care of your children, home modifications and transport costs. Depending on the severity of your child's injuries, your lawyer may hire an expert in disability services to create a “life care plan' that clearly details their needs starting from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump sum and annual installments, which can be index to keep pace with the rate of inflation. You should know that the compensation awarded for a successful legal claim is not a windfall. It's a recognition of the fact that injustice has occurred, all because a medical professional failed in their duty of medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.