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Alabama Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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Finding out that your child has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) can be a devastating setback. This is a condition that affects motor skills, muscle control, and speech. There are three types of CP, all with specific characteristics.

The first, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, is when the child is unable to move muscles without difficulty. The second type is called Athetoid Cerebral Palsy. It is easily diagnosed by the child's uncontrolled, involuntary movements. Lastly, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy involves a lack of depth perception and balance. All forms of the disorder are highly associated with other cognitive impairments and disabilities. Many individuals, for example, develop seizures later on in life, and most experience vision problems. Some have symptoms of all three forms.

If your child has been diagnosed with CP, then you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible. Although this is not a progressive ailment, the treatment for it can become quite costly. If your child was affected by CP due to a medical negligence, you are entitled to compensation for your child's medical expenses.

There are a variety of ways that a child can contract CP, and many of them are preventable. CP can be caused by various traumas while the child is in the womb as well as during the first three years of the infant's life. One of the leading causes of CP prior to birth is the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and nicotine by the pregnant mother. The abuse of these substances can affect the unborn child's brain, and can lead to CP once the child is born. If the mother has a sexually transmitted disease, then this can lead to a diagnosis of CP as well. A few examples of the leading diseases that cause CP are AIDS and syphilis. If you know that you have one of these diseases, then you should consult with a doctor before becoming pregnant. There are ways you can ensure that your baby is protected from the harms of these particular illnesses.

It is important to note that CP can develop after birth as well. Any type of head injury within the first three years of a child's life can leave him or her vulnerable to this disorder. One of the leading causes of CP after birth is car accidents. Many car accidents cause trauma to the brain. If your child has contracted CP as a result of a car accident, then you should consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Providing the necessary support for your child with CP is crucial to his or her development.

Cases of CP vary in severity, but if the proper treatment is provided at a young age, the child stands a better chance of living a relatively normal adult life. One of the key forms of treatment is physical therapy. CP adversely affects the signals from the brain to the rest of the body. With proper physical therapy, it is possible to help a child gain control over his or her mobility.

Although there is no cure for CP, there are a variety of medications that can be used in conjunction with physical therapy. Medications to alleviate pain as well as limit muscle contractions have proved to be quite helpful. Most children diagnosed with Spastic CP require these prescriptions because uncontrolled movements of the limbs can cause personal injuries and can put others as risk for getting hurt. Aside from the hospital bills accrued after a child is born, these treatments alone are costly enough to drain a person's finances. However, in cases of medical malpractice, you may be eligible to receive compensation to cover these costs.

Is Medical Malpractice at Fault?
Medical malpractice can be hard to determine, particularly since not all doctors abide by the same techniques. You may be able to hold your doctor liable for injuries your child acquired if:
Your doctor did not practice implied consent. Implied consent is a broad term defined as permission granted from the patient using spoken words, signs, or silence. Prior to conducting any exam, procedure, or surgery, a doctor must explain what it is he or she intends to do and the possible consequences and side effects of such actions. By doing so, an implied consent suggests that the patient has agreed to continue the procedures without having to sign a formal contract. If a doctor neglects to follow these rules during prenatal exams, he or she can be held liable for injuries acquired during the developmental stages, as no real permission was ever granted.
An inexperienced doctor may suggest an unusual operation or conduct other procedures that are atypical of hospital standards. There are countless reasons why this scenario might occur. Most commonly, a doctor's performance is weak because of overwork and exhaustion. Even if an action is unintentional, a doctor can be held liable for medical mistakes if they directly go against expert testimonials. This evidence is required for the case to hold up in court.
If medicines or drugs are improperly administered during labor, responsible parties may be held accountable.
Hospitals are fast-paced, hectic environments. In an effort to save time, doctors and other responsible parties may rush through deliveries, creating complication during childbirth that go untreated. In this instance, negligence has occurred, and those involved in the delivery process are to blame.

If any of the above scenarios apply to you situation, contact a birth injury or CP attorney right away in order to uphold your rights and seek justice for your child.