How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can have profound effects on the child and their family. cerebral palsy lawyer chattanooga can help them live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, care and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical negligence. It could be due to a lack of care during pregnancy, problems during birth or other events.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can help improve a child's abilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's muscle tone and coordination. They might refer a child to specialists such as pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists to assist in managing symptoms and increase the quality of life.
Cerebral palsy affects all people differently. It can be mild, with minimal impact on a child's ability to perform, or it can be severe and cause impairments throughout the body. Some of the symptoms include a floppy (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled that are difficult to walk, or having trouble 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 of the body, then it's called diplegia. In severe cases, CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity, which restricts the person's movement and can lead to difficulties with speech and eating.
Childbirth-related medical errors are a common cause of CP. Nurses, doctors, and midwives should be extra cautious when delivering the baby as damage to the brain may cause serious harm. A physician could be held accountable for malpractice if a medical error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage due to oxygen deficiency. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or failing to control and escalate a complicated labor.
Symptoms
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he / is likely to experience an array of physical symptoms. They could be characterized by tight or stiff joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement and issues with balance and posture. Other issues could include intellectual disabilities, 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 during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones such as standing up, crawling or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience trouble swallowing and might need feeding tubes.
Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure in pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major cause of CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain from damaged or blocked blood vessels.
Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common form of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral psoriasis, which is characterized by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid, or choreoathetoid) is defined by uncontrolled and slow writhing of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP could include ataxic cerebral palsy that has a shaky motion and paraplegic cerebral parsy where the legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
Although cerebral palsy symptoms vary, the majority people suffering from the condition experience stiffness and decrease in muscle control. They may also be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of movement problem that they face is determined by the brain region that was injured and the severity of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy to improve their mobility, tone of muscles and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also relieve the pain and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises, or other treatments might be incorporated.
Musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia, patella alta, cervical stenosis, scoliosis are common in CP. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.
Other treatments may include speech and language therapies for children who cannot communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways to communicate and could include sign language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.
Medications can be used to relax stiff or overactive muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. These medications are ingested by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful claim for cerebral palsy can result in compensation for your child's for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the mental and physical impact of your child's condition and any losses or expenses you might have incurred. This could include lost earnings due to the fact that you have to take a break from work to care for your children, house modifications and transportation expenses.
Your lawyer could hire an specialist in disability care, depending on the severity of the injury to your child. The expert will develop an "life care plan" that will outline their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This will allow you to calculate the most accurate compensation amount. It is typically in the form of a lump sum and annual installments, which could be indexed to keep up with inflation.
You should know that the amount of compensation you receive for a successful legal claim is not a windfall. It's a recognition of wrongdoing that occurred because a medical professional did not fulfill their duty of care during labour, pregnancy and the delivery.